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Frontispiece. 



The Range and Grange 
Hustlers on the Ranch 

OR 

The Boy Shepherds of the 
Great Divide 

By 

FRANK GEE PATCHIN 

n 

Author of The Range and Grange Hustlers’ Greatest Round-Up, 
The Pony Rider Boys Series, The Battleship Boys 
Series, etc., etc. 


Illustrated 


PHILADELPHIA 

HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY 


Copyright, 1912, by 
Howard E. Altemus 



CCI.A320280 


CONTENTS 


Chapter Page 

I. “Pardners^^ 7 

II. Making a Start in the World ]3 

III. Good Luck Deserts Them 27 

IV. At the Silver Bow 38 

V. In Humble Places 47 

VI. Becoming a Eeal “Cowboy’^ 59 

VII. Out With the Haymakers 68 

VIII. Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks 79 

IX. Fun in the Bunk House 92' 

X. Good News for the Hustlers lOG 

XI. The Hustlers as Eange Eiders 113 

XII. Following the Mountain Trails 121 

XIII. On the Grazing Grounds 127 

XIV. An Exciting Night 136 

XV. The Wreck op the Outfit 145 

XVI. Eod Makes a Discovery 157 

XVII. On the Trail op the Blackfoot 163 

XVIII. Chief Johnnie Boy^s Dilemma 173 

XIX. Under Fire! 189 

XX. Attacked by a Madman 199 

XXI. A Thrilling Night Eide 209 

XXII. Sending a Eeliep Party 218 

XXIII. Eeaping His Eeward 231 

XXIV. Conclusion 245 















The Range and Grange Hustlers 
on the Ranch 


CHAPTER I 

‘^PARDNERS^^ 

A BOY lay curled up asleep on a baggage 
truck at the Short Line station in Butte 
late one Saturday afternoon. 

Another boy came leisurely down the platform 
regarding the sleeping lad curiously. 

^ ^He must be pretty tired to go to sleep there,’’ 
decided the newcomer. ‘‘Perhaps he has come 
a long way and is waiting for a train. ’ ^ 

Seating himself on another truck, he looked 
reflectively at the sleeping boy, who suddenly 
opened his eyes, stared sleepily at the other 
youngster, then sat up, blinking. 

“ Hello, he said. “Who are youT’ 
“Hello,” was the answer. “My name^s Eod- 
ney Rogers. What^s your name!” 

“Glen Stevens,” was the quick reply. 
“Pretty hard place for a nap,” ventured 
Rogers sympathetically. 

7 


8 


THE RANGE AND GRANGE 


‘‘Well, yes; but it is better than some places 
where I have slept. Do you live in Butte 

Rodney Rogers nodded. He was still regard- 
ing the other boy inquiringly. The latter ap- 
peared to be about Rogers’s own age, though 
somewhat taller and more rugged, with face well 
browned, showing that he had been living out 
of doors for some time. Rodney, after a few 
moments ’ study, had decided that he might like 
the young stranger. Perhaps something of the 
same thing was in the mind of the waking boy. 
The latter got up, stretched himself, yawned, 
then strolling over, sat down on the truck with 
young Rogers. 

“Do you live in Butte, too?” asked Rodney. 

“No, I am from Iowa.” 

“Whew! You are a long way from home, 
aren’t you?” 

“Yes,” 

“Where you going?” 

“I’m going down into the Centennial Valley. 
I had thought of going to Dillon, where I under- 
stand there are some big ranches.” 

“Then you are going to work on a ranch 
there, eh?” questioned Rodney. 

“Yes, I hope to do so, though I have no place, 
as yet. ’ ’ 

Rogers ’s blue eyes lighted up with new inter- 
est. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 


9 


^‘So am 1. That is, I am going to look for 
work on a ranch, too,^^ he replied. 

‘‘Ton arel’^ 

‘‘Yes; hnt I haven T a job, either. Wouldn’t 
it be nice if you and I could go along together 
and get a job on the same ranch!” 

“It would be fine!” exclaimed Glen. 

“Have you a call, too!” demanded Rodney, 
his face suddenly sobering. 

“A call!” questioned the other wonderingly. 

“Yes, a call to the soil.” 

The strange boy laughed. 

“I guess you might call it that. I’m a farmer. 
I was brought up on a farm and know how to 
do almost everything about a farm, and I like 
it. Nothing else suits me quite so well, in fact, 
I do not know much else but farming. That is 
all I am good for.” 

“Then I am sure we shall be friends,” 
laughed Rodney. “I am determined to be a 
farmer, too.” 

The hands of the two boys met in a firm clasp, 
thus sealing a friendship that was to endure for 
many years to come. From that moment on 
they felt as well acquainted as though they had 
known each other for a long time. Nor had 
they been impulsive in thus swiftly ratifying 
a friendship ; both boys were instinctively good 
judges of human nature. 


10 THE RANGE AND GRANGE 


Where had you thought of going asked 
Glen. 

^AVell, it is strange, but I was of the same 
mind as yourself. I had thought of Dillon, too. 
We will talk it over. We have plenty of time. 
How did you chance to be out here looking for 
work?^’ 

Because the big ranches are out here — the 
big things are done in this part of the world. 
You see I know about the large farms because 
I have heard all about them at the agricultural 
school. I went to the school at Ames, Iowa. ’ ’ 

‘ ^ Indeed ! ’ ’ Rodney regarded his companion 
with even more curiosity than before. To have 
attended an agricultural school was a distinction 
not lost upon young Rogers. 

^‘My father lost his money and his farm, and 
I could not complete my course. I decided to 
go to work, and here I am. I didnT want to 
start in at home, so I went as far away as I 
could go. 

^Ht must have cost you a lot of money to 
travel,’’ suggested Rodney. 

^^Not so much. You see, I was locked in a 
box car and didnT get out until I had ridden 
nearly two hundred miles on my way. I thought 
I was never going to get out of the place until 
they carried me out. What little money I have 
I keep to buy food, and I haven’t had any too 


HUSTLEKS ON THE RANCH 11 


much of that. How do you intend to travel — 
by freight r’ 

‘‘No, I rather thought I would send myself 
by express,’’ grinned Rodney, whereat both 
laughed heartily. 

“You must be rich, then,” decided Glen. 

“I’m anything but rich,” replied Rodney. 
“In fact, I’m very poor. I’ve been working as 
office boy for a mining and milling company, but 
I was discharged to-day. Their business is dull 
and they are cutting down their force of em- 
ployes. They offered to take me on in the fall, 
but I hope to be a long way from here by that 
time. ’ ’ 

“Perhaps we’ll both be full-fledged farmers 
before fall,” said Glen hopefully. “AYhy don’t 
you pack your stuff and come with me to-night? 
We can take the night train for Dillon.” 

“I can’t start out quite so soon as all that,” 
replied Rogers, “because I shall have to talk 
things over with mother first. She doesn ’t know 
yet that I’ve lost my position. You had better 
come home with me, and stay over Sunday. 
Mother and I live in a cottage up on the hill. 
My father died when I was quite young and 
mother works in a store, but if I become a suc- 
cess in the farming business she won’t have to 
work much longer. If I can get a place on a 
ranch I’ll send her every cent of my wages that 


12 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


I can spare. She ^11 be surprised to hear that 
I wish to be a farmer. l\e never told her about 
feeling the call of the soil. She’ll understand, 
however. She always understands and sympa- 
thizes. ’ ’ 

“Perhaps she won’t care to take a strange 
boy into the house,” said Glen doubtfully. 

“Nonsense,” replied Rodney confidently. 
“You don’t know mother. She’s neither cranky 
nor suspicious. She knows I wouldn’t bring 
home a boy unless he were the right sort of fel- 
low. ’ ’ 

“How do you know that I’m the ^ right sort 
of fellow’?” demanded Glen abruptly. 

“I’m sure that you are,” responded Rodney 
promptly, “and that settles it. Will you come 
with me?” 

“I certainly will,” replied Glen Stevens 
heartily. “Then if your mother’s willing for 
you to go, we’ll start out Monday morning. 
What do you say?” 

“It’s a go,” agreed Rodney. “We will stick: 
together no matter what happens and Jiustle 
things when we get the chance. We’re pardners 
from now on.” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 13 


CHAPTER II 

MAKIISTG A STAKT IN THE WORLD 

T he ‘‘call of the soiP’ was and had been 
for many months a matter of serious im- 
port to Rodney Rogers. Since the death 
of his father some years before, Rodney and 
his mother had lived in a little one-storied cot- 
tage in the suburbs of Butte, Montana. Mr. 
Rogers had left his family practically penniless 
and his wife had been obliged to seek employ- 
ment as a saleswoman in a millinery store in 
Butte in order to support herself and boy. 

She was determined, however, that her son 
should have at least a common school education, 
and by dint of many sacrifices Rodney had that 
spring completed his course in the public school. 
He was now fifteen years of age, stocldly built, 
blue-eyed, fair-haired, with an expression of pur- 
pose and resolute determination looking out 
from his boyish face. He had understood plainly 
from tfie time of his father's death what poverty 
meant, and had shown his appreciation of his 
mother's efforts by trying to earn money when- 
ever the opportunity presented itself. Scarcely 
a week passed that Rodney did not manage to 
earn a dollar or two after school hours, every 


14 THE RANGE AND GRANGE 


cent of which he turned over to his mother with 
unspeakable pride. He never complained at 
being unable to take part in the amusements of 
his playmates, nor did he demand the spending 
money that he knew his mother could not afford 
to give him. 

The day after he had finished his course in 
school, the lad had hurried down town, and be- 
fore going home that night had secured a 
position as office hoy with a mining company at 
a salary of three dollars a week. Here he had 
worked faithfully, and although the fact of his 
discharge had been something of a shock to him, 
still he cherished the proud consciousness that 
it was for no dishonorable reason. 

^^To tell you the truth, Glen,’’ Rodney con- 
fided as the two boys toiled up the steep hill 
to the Rogers cottage, ^H’m rather glad that the 
company discharged me.” 

‘^That’s a cheerful way to look at the mat- 
ter,” replied Glen. 

^Ht’s like this,” Rodney continued. ‘H’ve 
had the ^soil’ fever for years, I think. Every 
spring the call of the soil grows stronger. It 
gets into my blood and makes me feel as though 
I must run away from the town and out into 
the country for good and all. I graduated from 
public school last s]Dring and took a position the 
same day. Now that I’m through with school, 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 15 


and have lost my job, I feel free for the first 
time to think about going on a ranch. 

‘^You’ll never be satisfied until you try it/^ 
asserted Glen positively. “It’s the only life 
for me.” 

^ ‘ There ^s mother in the door now ! ’ ’ exclaimed 
Rodney as they neared the cottage. “She’s 
wondering why I’m late. She has to go back 
to the store on Saturday nights, so we always 
have an early supper. ’ ’ 

“What makes you so late, dear?” called Mrs. 
Rogers as the two boys entered the tiny yard. 

“Lots of things have happened,” laughed 
Rodney, kissing his mother affectionately. 
“Mother, this is Glen Stevens. He and I are 
going to be pardners. I’ll tell you all about it 
while we eat supper.” 

“How do you do, Glen?” said Mrs. Rogers, 
extending her hand to the boy with a friendly 
smile that at once made him feel at ease. “I 
am always glad to meet Rodney’s friends. Now 
come in and have supper, boys, for I must hurry 
back to the store.” 

During the progress of the meal Rodney re- 
lated to his mother the story of his discharge 
from the office, his meeting with Glen and his 
desire to leave Butte and begin ranch life. 

‘ ‘ Why, Rod ! ’ ’ exclaimed his mother when he 
had finished, ^ ‘ I never knew that you had what 


14 THE RANGE AND GRANGE 


cent of wliich he turned over to his mother with 
unspeakable pride. He never complained at 
being unable to take part in the amusements of 
his playmates, nor did he demand the spending 
money that he knew his mother could not afford 
to give him. 

The day after he had finished his course in 
school, the lad had hurried down town, and be- 
fore going home that night had secured a 
position as office boy with a mining company at 
a salary of three dollars a week. Here he had 
worked faithfully, and altliough the fact of his 
discharge had been something of a shock to him, 
still he cherished the proud consciousness that 
it was for no dishonorable reason. 

^‘To tell you the truth, Glen,’’ Rodney con- 
fided as the two boys toiled up the steep hill 
to the Rogers cottage, ‘H’m rather glad that the 
company discharged me.” 

That’s a cheerful way to look at the mat- 
ter,” replied Glen. 

^Ht’s like this,” Rodney continued. ‘H’ve 
had the ^soil’ fever for years, I think. Every 
spring the call of the soil grows stronger. It 
gets into my blood and makes me feel as though 
I must run away from the town and out into 
the country for good and all. I graduated from 
public school last spring and took a position the 
same day. Now that I’m through with school, 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 15 


and have lost my job, I feel free for the first 
time to think about going on a ranch. 

“You’ll never be satisfied until you try it,^’ 
asserted Glen positively. “It’s the only life 
for me.” 

“There’s mother in the door now !” exclaimed 
Rodney as they neared the cottage. “She’s 
wondering why I’m late. She has to go back 
to the store on Saturday nights, so we always 
have an early supper.” 

“What makes you so late, dear?” called Mrs. 
Rogers as the two boys entered the tiny yard. 

“Lots of things have happened,” laughed 
Rodney, kissing his mother affectionately. 
“Mother, this is Glen Stevens. He and I are 
going to be pardners. I’ll tell you all about it 
while we eat supper.” 

“How do you do, Glen?” said Mrs. Rogers, 
extending her hand to the boy with a friendly 
smile that at once made him feel at ease. “I 
am always glad to meet Rodney’s friends. Now 
come in and have supper, boys, for I must hurry 
back to the store.” 

During the progress of the meal Rodney re- 
lated to his mother the story of his discharge 
from the office, his meeting with Glen and his 
desire to leave Butte and begin ranch life. 

“Why, Rod!” exclaimed his mother when he 
had finished, “I never knew that you had what 


16 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


you term ‘a call to the soil.’ You have never 
spoken of it to me before.” 

know that,” admitted Eod. didn’t 
wish to bother you with my dreams when there 
seemed to be no chance of making them come 
true. Last Tuesday night I went to hear that 
lecture in the opera house. The speaker, John 
J. Hall, is one of the greatest ranch owners in 
the west. His lecture was about the opportuni- 
ties for young men on the big farms and ranches. 
I can’t remember all he said, but it was great. 
The last part of the lecture was the best of all, 
and it went something like this: 

‘For our future we must look to the boys 
of America, who never yet have failed to re- 
spond to the call of duty. To-day the call is 
loud and clear. The farms, the ranches need 
you, boys. We’re falling behind in all the prod- 
ucts of the farm just because our American boys 
and young men are running away from the 
farms instead of running to them to seek em- 
ployment. You are the ones to help save the 
country. Will you heed the call of the farms 
and ranches? Will you?’ ” 

Eod’s voice took on an appealing tone as he 
repeated the great speaker’s concluding words. 
In his earnestness he half rose from his chair. 
Then flushing at some sudden recollection, he 
sat down again and said, with a short laugh : 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 17 


^^What do you suppose I did the other night 
at the lecture, mother 

don’t know, I’^m sure,” smiled his mother. 
‘‘Tell us what you did.” 

“When Mr. Hall said ‘Will youU the last 
time I was so excited that I forgot where I was 
and shouted ‘yes’ at the top of my voice,” con- 
fessed Rod. “Of course everyone laughed, but 
Mr. Hall said he was glad to know that at least 
one boy had decided in favor of ranch life.” 

Mrs. Rogers and Glen laughed a little at Rod’s 
confession. 

‘ ‘ I think I should have shouted ‘yes, ’ too, ” ad- 
mitted Glen. “How I wish I might have heard 
that lecture.” 

“Now, boys, I must leave you,” said Mrs. 
Rogers, rising from the table. “We’ll have a 
good, long talk about your plans to-morrow.” 

“Good-bye, mother,” said Rod, as he accom- 
panied her to the door five minutes later. 
“You’re the best mother a fellow ever had. I 
hate to go away and leave you, but it’s the only 
way I’ll ever make a start in the world. You’ll 
say I can go, won’t you, mother?” 

“We’ll see about that to-morrow,” smiled his 
mother. ‘ ‘ I must have time to think things over. 
I wish you to do whatever is best for you to do, 
remember that. Rod.” 

When Mrs. Rogers had gone the two boys 


2 / Range and Grange. 


18 THE EANGE A^D GEANGE 


swept the kitchen and washed the dishes ; then, 
sitting side by side on the steps of the cottage, 
they entered into an absorbing discussion of 
farm life tliat lasted until Mrs. Eogers returned 
from her work at ten o^clock. 

The next day being Sunday, Eodney had 
plenty of time to more fully unfold his pet pro- 
ject to his mother. It was plain to be seen that 
his heart was set on finding employment on a 
ranch. In this resolve he was earnestly sec- 
onded by Glen. Mrs. Eogers had closely ob- 
served Glen Stevens during the short time he 
had been Eodney ’s guest, and was fully con- 
vinced as to his uprightness and honesty. Since 
her son was determined to strike out for him- 
self, she felt satisfied that Glen’s companionship 
would do Eodney no harm. Her judgment told 
her that Glen was honorable and self-reliant. 

‘‘You haven’t said that I can go, motlier,” 
Eodney reminded her at supper that night. 
“Please say ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ and if it’s ‘no,’ I’ll 
promise not to grumble or complain.^’ 

Mrs. Eogers looked wistfully at her son. 

“It is ‘yes,’ Eodney, if you are convinced 
that farming is your vocation. I shall miss you 
sadly, but I feel that in so important a matter as 
choosing your life occupation I have no right to 
stand in your way. I am sure that you and Glen 
will do whatever is right, wherever you may be.” 


HUSTLEKS ON THE RANCH 19 


will,” chorused both boys. 

' ' You just wait, mother, ’ ’ cried Rodney. ‘ H ’ll 
have a farm of my own one of these days and 
then you shall come to live with me. Think how 
happy we’ll be.” 

Mrs. Rogers smiled indulgently at Rodney’s 
enthusiasm. 

^H’m going to pack my things to-night,” 
Rodney declared, ‘Hor we’ll have to get up early 
to-morrow morning. I ’ll take that old traveling 
bag that belonged to father to put my stuff in. 
It will hold everything I shall need.” 

‘‘Very well,” assented Mrs. Rogers. “What 
about money, Rodney! You must take at least 
five dollars with you. You can scarcely get along 
with less than that.” 

Rodney looked reflective. 

“I’ll take it on one condition, mother,” he 
said slowly, “and that is that I’m to send it 
back from my first month’s wages, wherever 
I get work, and as much more with it as I can 
spare.” 

“Just as you please,” replied his mother. 
But she privately resolved that whatever money 
Rodney sent her, instead of being used for 
household expenses, should be placed to the lad’s 
credit in one of the local banks. 

The two boys awoke at daybreak the next 
morning, and dressing rapidly, Rodney hurried 


20 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


to the kitchen, where he found his mother pre- 
paring the last breakfast he would eat at home 
for perhaps many months. A lump rose in the 
boy^s throat as he suddenly realized how much 
he should miss his mother, but bravely smother- 
ing his feelings, he greeted her cheerily. Mrs. 
Eogers, equally brave, allowed no shadow of the 
coming separation to mar Eodney’s last break- 
fast at home, and the meal was eaten almost mer- 
rily. 

Saying good-bye proved a harder task, but 
both mother and son kept up the same spirit of 
courage. As the two boys trudged down the hill, 
Eodney turned repeatedly to wave his hand to 
his mother as she watched him from the door 
of the cottage, until a bend of the road hid her 
from view. 

On reaching the station the lads found that 
they still had some time to wait for their train, 
and that the ticket office was not yet open. 

Seating themselves on one of the wooden 
benches inside they began a low-toned discussion 
regarding the possibilities offered by farm and 
ranch life, nor were they aware that they had 
an interested listener in the man seated next to 
them. Suddenly he leaned forward. 

^‘Good morning, lads,” he said. 

Both boys looked quickly about at the 
stranger. He was a well-dressed, middle-aged 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 21 


man, with searching gray eyes and a keen, yet 
kindly face. 

^ ‘ Good morning, sir, ^ ’ they responded politely, 
could not help overhearing part of your 
conversation, and I will admit that it interested 
me. You are looking for work, are you notU’ 

‘‘Yes, sir; work of a certain kind,^^ answered 
Rodney. “We would like to work on a ranch. 

“Exactly. Have you ever worked on a 
ranch 

“No, sir; but my friend has. He has at- 
tended an agricultural school, too. He knows 
a great deal about farming.’’ 

“A little, not a great deal,” corrected Glen 
Stevens. “I have just scraped the outside edges 
of the business, that’s all.” 

“We are both anxious to learn and willing 
to work, no matter how hard.” 

“You will have to work hard. Ranching is 
not play. It is hard, wearing and sometimes 
disheartening work, but for the right man it 
offers inducements found in few professions or 
businesses to-day. Perhaps, after you have tried 
it, you will change your mind,” suggested the 
stranger, with a twinkle in his eyes. 

“No, sir, I know I shall not,” returned Rod 
eagerly. “I have the call. I have it strongly. 
I have had it for a long time. ’ ’ 

“You have the call?” 


22 THE RANGE AND GRANGE 


‘‘Yes, sir/^ 

Rogers went on to explain what he meant by 
the “call/^ Then he related Avith considerable 
enthusiasm what the speaker had said at the 
lecture, growing eloquent as he repeated the 
words that had made such a deep impression 
upon him. 

“That’s what I mean by the call, sir,” added 
the lad in conclusion. 

“I guess you will do,” smiled the stranger. 
“Yours is the sort of enthusiasm that wins in 
the long run. How would you lads like to work 
for me?” 

“For you, sir?” questioned Rodney perplex- 
edly. 

“Yes.” 

“Are you a rancher, sir?” 

“I am called such. I operate seventy thou- 
sand acres of my own, leasing nearly a quarter 
of a million acres more from the government 
forest reserves for grazing purposes. We do 
general farming, raising sheep in large numbers, 
as well as cattle on the lower ranges. We are 
looking for young men — ^young men with a call,” 
he added, smilingly. “You are the sort we are 
looking for, judging from the brief conversation 
I have had with you.” 

Rod could scarcely believe that this good 
fortune had come to him. He gazed keenly at 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 23 


the rancher to make sure that the other meant 
what he had said. 

‘‘May I ask your name, sirU’ 

“Woods, Captain Jim Woods. You may in- 
quire about me from any stockman and he will 
tell you that Captain Woodses word is as good 
as his bond any day in the week. ’ ^ 

“I can well believe that, sir. Where is your 
ranch U’ 

“At Shelby. It is known as the Silver Bow 
Ranch. You may have heard of it.’’ 

“Indeed I have,” answered Rogers, with 
glowing eyes. “I met a man once who used to 
work for you. He said ” 

“Never mind what he said, young man. If 
uncomplimentary I don’t want to hear it; if 
complimentary it might embarrass me, ” laughed 
the rancher. “Let’s get down to business.” 

“Very good, sir. I will do so by asking how 
much you will pay us!” questioned Rodney 
boldly. 

“That’s the talk. Let me see.” The rancher 
measured the boys from head to foot in a long, 
critical gaze. “VJiat are your names!” 

Rodney told him, introducing his companion. 

“Do you think you are strong enough to 
stand up under a hard day’s work on the ranch, 
Rogers!” 

“Yes, sir, I am. Perhaps, however, it might 


24 THE KANGE AND GEANGE 


be well for you to try us before deciding what 
we are worth. You can tell better after that 
what you think you can pay us. ’ ’ 

suppose you wouldnT be willing to work 
for your board T’ demanded Captain Woods, 
with a twinkle, which the lads did not observe. 

‘ ‘ No, sir, ” answered Eodney promptly. ‘ ^ We 
are either worth some sort of wages, or else we 
are not worth anything at all.^^ 

quite agree with you. How much do you 
want?’’ 

^‘What’ll you give?” 

will give you twenty-five dollars a month 
and keep for the first month. After that we 
shall see. How does that strike you?” 

‘H’ll take it, sir. Glen, what do you say?” 
asked Eodney, turning to his companion. 

‘ ‘ Twenty-five dollars a month and board looks 
good to me for a starter,” nodded Stevens, 
provided the board is good.” 

‘^You will find that part of it all right, boys. 
Of course you will get no fancy dishes on the 
range. ’ ’ 

‘‘We do not expect them. We are perfectly 
willing to eat what the rest of the men get along 
on,” spoke up young Eogers. “We accept your 
offer. When do you wish us to report for 
work?” 

“When can you start?” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 25 


^‘Well, we have started already/^ laughed 
Rodney. fact I think we were on our way 
to your ranch when you spoke to us. ^ ’ 

‘‘Good; take the next train. You should get 
there about three o^clock in the afternoon. Put 
up at the little hotel just across the street from 
the station at Shelby. Tell the woman there 
that Captain Woods sent you and will be re- 
sponsible for your lodgings until morning. Go 
out to the Home Ranch in the morning and ask 
for Tom Neville. He is my general foreman. 
Here, I will give you a line to him. ’ ’ 

Captain Woods hastily scribbled a note to his 
foreman, handing it to Rogers. 

“Come over here and I will get your tickets.^’ 

The lads accompanied the rancher to the office, 
where he quickly purchased two tickets to 
Shelby. 

“Will you be going down on this train 
asked Rodney, as he pocketed his ticket. 

“No, I do not expect to be back for at least 
a couple of days. I am here to meet a man 
who is coming in on the Short Line up train. 
I wish you luck, lads. Have you sufficient 
money 

“Oh, yes, sir, thank you; plenty for our 
needs. ’ ’ 

“Then good-bye and good luck. My train is 
coming in now.^^ 


26 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


Captain Woods gave each of the lads a quick, 
hearty hand clasp, then strode out to the plat- 
form, leaving the boys standing in the station 
looking at each other in a dazed sort of way. 

‘^Well, I must say things are coming our 
way,’’ laughed Glen, looking down at the little 
piece of pasteboard in his hand. ‘‘They do 
things right out in this country, don’t they?” 

“We are a pair of lucky boys, Glen,” an- 
swered Eodney. “We ought to be mighty thank- 
ful for our good luck.” 

“We’ll decide that question after we have 
tried out the job,” answered Stevens. “Let’s 
go out and watch for the train.” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 27 


CHAPTER III 

GOOD LUCK DESEETS THEM 

I T was a pair of happy lads who boarded the 
down train at the Short Line station about 
thirty minutes after having taken leave of 
Captain Woods. 

For the next hour and a half the lads con- 
versed in low tones, talking over their good 
fortune, getting better acquainted with every 
moment spent in each other’s company. The 
motion of the train, however, coupled with the 
fact that the boys had been too excited to sleep 
very soundly the preceding night, soon caused 
them to nod, and presently they were asleep. 

It seemed as if they had been sleeping but 
a few moments when young Rogers awoke with 
a start. Some one was shaking him by the shoul- 
der. 

‘‘Tickets!” said the conductor irritably. 
Rodney, blinking, rapidly began searching for 
his transportation. He finally found the ticket 
in his hat on the fioor of the car. By this time 
Stevens was awake, that is, he was gazing in 
a dazed sort of way at the conductor. 

“Where’s your ticket, Glen?” questioned 
Rogers. 


30 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


car. I should have known better than to try 
to ride in a window train as the tramps out in 
Iowa call the passenger trains. You can tell 
the folks I am on the way when you get to 
Shelby, Eod.’’ 

Eodney shook his head. 

‘H’m not going through on this train, he 
said firmly. 

‘^Not going 

‘‘No ; lam going to stand by you. We prom- 
ised to stick together when we made our bargain 
on the station platform back there at Butte. 
We are going to do so. This is a good time 
to begin, declared Eodney decisively. 

“You will do nothing of the sort. You will 
go on to Shelby on your ticket. Idl manage to 
get there somehow, provided I can pick up a 
freight train whose crew is not too particular. 
You go right along. I will drop off at the next 
station where this train stops. I hope it doesnT 
stop for an hour or so, though.’’ 

“Your wish isn’t going to come true,” 
laughed Eogers. “The train is slowing down 
right now. W^e might as well take our bags 
and march.” 

“I won’t have it,” protested Stevens. “I’ll 
thrash you if you try to get off.” 

“I shall have to get off or be put off, for I 
will be in the same fix as yourself.” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 31 


‘‘You have a ticket. Ride on it. Don’t be 
foolish.” 

For answer, Rodney drew the ticket from his 
pocket, tore it into fine hits, letting the pieces 
filter through between his fingers to the floor 
of the car. Glen Stevens looked on with an ex- 
pression of puzzled amazement in his eyes. 

“There, we are both in the same fix now,” 
announced Rogers smilingly. “Come, the train 
is stopping. Let’s get out before the conductor 
has something disagreeable to say to us.” 

The lads hurried to the door, dropping otf 
to the platform. 

“Run for it, we will make the blind baggage,” 
urged Stevens. “We have paid for our ride, 
anyway. ’ ’ 

“Hey, you, get out of there !” warned a train- 
man, who had observed Glen’s movement toward 
the front of the train. ‘ ‘ None of that, unless you 
are looking for a fall.” 

“Come back here, Glen!” cried Rodney. “No 
use, they are determined we shan’t ride on their 
train; We don’t want to ride on their old train, 
anyhow. ” 

In another moment the train began moving 
away. Glen Stevens stood gazing at it until it 
disappeared around a bend in the road and was 
lost to view. Then he walked slowly back to the 
place where Rogers was standing. 


32 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


‘^Eod,’’ he said, in a voice full of emotion, 
‘^yon are more kinds of fool than I ever met 
np with in all my life, but I want to say that 
yon are the right kind. YonVe a man all 
through. Anybody who says yon aren’t is going 
to get it straight from the shoulder from me. 
The next question is, what are we going to do ? ” 

‘Ht strikes me that there is only one thing 
for us to do — ^walk,” answered Eodney. 
wonder how far it is?” 

‘^We can easily find out by looking at the 
sign on the station there.” 

As they approached the platform they were 
able to make out the name of the station as 
well as the distance from Butte. 

‘^Well?” demanded Stevens. 

^‘We have forty miles to go.” 

‘Hs that all?” 

‘‘Isn’t it enough, Glen?” 

“It might be farther.” 

“Yes, but I am pretty thankful that it isn’t.” 

“Surely you are not going to try to walk it, 
are you?” demanded Stevens. 

“Of course I am. How do you think I can 
get to Shelby otherwise?” 

“We might catch a freight,” suggested Glen. 

Eodney shook his head. 

“It is against the law, and besides, we are not 
tramps ” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 33 


‘^We^re not? We donT lack much of it,” 
laughed Stevens. ^^No, you are right. There 
is but one thing to do — hoof it, follow the steel 
to the place where our tickets read. If it werenT 
that we had promised and taken the tickets I 
should be inclined to stop right here and look 
for something in our line. There must he 
ranches hereabouts ” 

‘^Out of the question,” interrupted Rodney 
with emphasis. * ^ Of course we shall do nothing 
of the sort.” 

^^No, I know that. I was only saying what 
we might do. ’ ^ 

‘‘We had better get started. What time is 
it?” 

Stevens laughed jeeringly. 

“Yes, that’s what I should like to know. You 
will have to ask the man who has my watch. 
Shall we start?” 

“I suppose so.” 

The lads picked up their bags and, stepping 
down on the tracks, started off in the wake of 
the train whose roar had wholly died away by 
this time. It was rough walking, but the two 
boys accepted their dilemma in good humor, 
however, laughing and joking as they trudged 
along. Presently a heavy freight train went 
thundering past them, the lads taking to the side 
of the track while the train passed. 


3 / Rattle and Grange^ 


34, THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


Glen regarded the train ruefully. 

Just our luck not to have them stop. That 
would get us into Shelby in good season if they 
didn’t make many stops.” 

‘‘At least we shall go in with whole skins as 
it is, ’ ’ laughed Eodney. ‘ ‘ This riding on freight 
trains never did appeal to me. I ” 

A shout from his companion cut short what 
Eodney was saying. 

“Glen! Are you there?” 

“No, I’m here,” answered a voice that 
sounded some distance away. 

“Where?” 

“Down here. I’ve fallen in a hole of some 
sort. ’ ’ 

“A hole? There can’t be any holes here. I 
know; it must be a culvert. Are you hurt?’^ 

“I’ve skinned a leg, that’s all. Don’t let that 
worry you. The skin will grow on again. Look 
out that you don’t take a tumble, too.” 

Eogers was climbing down the embankment 
to help his companion. 

“Stay where you are. I’ll get up after a 
while. It would be just my luck to have another 
train come along and drop a cinder in my eye 
while I am down here. There, I see the way 
out now.” 

Alternately growling and laughing, Glen 
crawled out from the culvert and made his way 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 35 


up to the bank, where he sat down and rubbed 
his skinned leg. 

^‘Does it hurt?^’ asked Rodney solicitously. 

^Ht doesnT feel so funny that I want to laugh 
about it. Ever skin your leg?’' 

‘‘Yes.” 

“Then you know what it feels like without my 
telling you. I couldn’t rightly tell you if I 
tried. ’ ’ 

“Do you think you will be able to walk?” 

“I am going to walk, whether I am able to 
or not. Why?” 

“I was going to otfer to help you.” 

“I guess not. I’m not a baby. If I had some 
water I should like to wash the skinned places 
and ” 

“That would be the worst thing you could do. 
Get up and start. You will forget all about it 
in a little while. ’ ’ 

“Yes, I am likely to. All right, we’ll go. 
I guess you are right about the water.” 

Rogers lent a hand, hauling his friend up to 
the ties beside him, after which they started on, 
somewhat more slowly than before, Stevens 
limping painfully, but making no complaints. 
They did not stop again until well into the after- 
noon, when they left the track to look for 
a stream that they heard rippling near them, 
The water proved to be clear and cool. 


36 THE RANGE AND GRANGE 


The young would-be ranchers drank until they 
could drink no more. Then they washed their 
faces, which gre^itly refreshed them, and having 
rested for twenty minutes or thereabouts, once 
more took up their weary walk. 

‘‘Are you hungry?’^ asked Rodney. 

“I should say I am.^^ 

“I am beginning to feel that way myself. 
We’ll find something to eat along here, I hope.^’ 

“What, for instance?” 

“Well, at a pinch, we can eat leaves. I’m so 
glad to see something green that I almost forget 
my troubles.” 

“It does look good,” nodded Stevens, draw- 
ing in a deep breath of the fresh country air. 
“This high altitude bothers me. I can’t stand 
quite as much exercise as I could were I at 
home.” 

“I don’t feel it, Glen.” 

“No, you’re used to it, that’s the difference.” 

They had not gone far before Rogers dis- 
covered some berry bushes with a few scrawny, 
dusty berries clinging to their seared stems. 
The boys ate the berries in short order. That 
was all they found to eat that day. 

Evening found them still plodding manfully 
along, footsore and weary, but with spirits still 
high, eyes bright and laughing. Stevens was 
turning out much better than Rodney had ex- 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 37 


pected. The Iowan was not the grumbler that 
he gave promise of being at the beginning of the 
long hike. Late that night young Rogers called 
a halt. 

^‘Let^s hold a council of war, Glen. Now, ac- 
cording to my figures, we are about ten miles 
from our destination.^’ 

guess that is about it.” 

^^We can gain nothing by going on to-night, so 
I move that we turn in, getting started at day- 
light for Shelby. We shall be the better for 
the rest and lose nothing because of it. What 
is that stuff over yonder in the field?” 

^‘Alfalfa.” 

^‘That suits me. Suppose we burrow into a 
pile of it and go to sleep?” 

Glen agreed that the suggestion was a good 
one, so the two boys climbed the fence, limped 
over to the field, where they made their beds 
in the fragrant alfalfa, and burrowing down deep 
to keep out of the mountain dew, went to sleep 
almost as soon as they straightened out on their 
backs. 


38 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


CHAPTEE IV 

AT THE SILVER BOW 

R odney was awake first in the morning. 
This was because he had brushed the 
alfalfa from his face to get more air 
during the night and now the sun was shining 
down into his eyes. He undoubtedly would have 
slept half the day had it not been for the morn- 
ing sun. Several trains had thundered by dur- 
ing the night and morning, but neither boy had 
heard them. 

Glen was awakened by a violent shaking at 
the hands of his companion. 

^‘Wake up, breakfast is ready, laughed 
Eogers. 

‘ ‘ Break — ^breakfast ? ’ ’ 

‘‘Yes, if we get there in time. I don’t know 
what time they eat their breakfast at the Silver 
Bow, but we will do our best to get tliere before 
they take the dishes off the table. How’s your 
leg?” 

“Big as a fence post and a heap stiffer. I 
feel like a hobbled broncho. I feel like kicking 
out with both feet, but I can’t kick at all. 
Gracious, how I did sleep. Have you washed ? ’ ’ 
“No, but I am going to do so. There is a 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 39 


stream a little way beyond here. I see some 
cattle drinking there now.’’ 

The boys hurried over to the stream where 
they bathed their faces, wiping them on their 
handkerchiefs; then, without further prelim- 
inaries, started off bravely for the remaining 
ten miles of their hike. Some three hours later 
both uttered shouts of joy as they made out 
the railroad station at Shelby. A train was 
standing in front of the station, but it had pulled 
out long before they reached there. 

Shelby, as unfolded to their view, consisted of 
a dozen fairly good houses, a building called a 
hotel, a post-office and general store combined, 
the office of the ranch company and the railroad 
station. That was all. The village nestled in 
a canyon of the Rockies witli green, treeless 
hills towering above the place on two sides. On 
the other two sides the crooked canyon twisted 
its way into the depths of the mountains and 
was soon lost to view. 

Rodney was filled with admiration. It seemed 
to him as if he had never looked upon so beau- 
tiful a scene. 

‘^This is grand,” he breathed. 

‘^Yes, it is, but I think we could better ap- 
preciate it if we had a meal and a rest, don’t 
you, RodU^ 

don’t know about that. Come, there is the 


40 THE RANGE AND GRANGE 


hotel to which Mr. Woods referred ns. We will 
stop and make inquiries.’^ 

‘Ht will take something more than inquiries 
to satisfy me at the present stage of the game, ’ ^ 
laughed Stevens. 

Breakfast had long since been finished when 
they reached the hotel. The woman in charge 
of the place said she was too busy to get them 
anything to eat. Neither lad had any money 
with which to buy eatables at the general store. 

Next they visited the company's offices, which 
they found locked. It was evident that Mr. 
Woods had not yet returned. Perhaps his 
clerks, if he had any, were away on a holiday. 

‘^We must find out where the foreman is and 
get to him,’^ decided Rodney. ‘‘The longer we 
wait the worse will be our condition and the 
more pay we shall lose. ’ ^ 

“All right, you lead the way and 1^11 follow. 

Rogers went to the general store for his in- 
formation. He learned that Tom Neville, the 
general foreman of the Silver Bow Ranch, had 
gone out to the Home Ranch that morning and 
probably would not return for a day or two. 
The Home Ranch was ten miles farther up in 
the mountains. 

Rod did not complain. He shut his lips a lit- 
tle more firmly and turning to his companion 
said: “Come on, Glen.” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 41 


The latter offered no protest. Rodney led the 
way, his companion walking a few paces beliind 
him. In this manner they went on, following 
the directions they had received, for some time. 
At last Glen hurried up to his companion's side. 

^^Rod, as I said before, you are a man all 
through. I was lucky to fall in with you back 
there at Butte. You would make a fellow hustle 
whether he wanted or not. You are the original 
hustler. ’ ^ 

am going to be. I am going to be a range 
and grange hustler at least.’’ 

That’s a good idea. Suppose we call our- 
selves that?” 

Rogers glanced up quickly. 

‘‘The Range and Grange Hustlers?” 

“Yes.” 

“All right. Y^en we are inclined to get lazy 
we will just think of our name,” laughed Rod. 
“I hope we get a chance to hustle something 
pretty soon. Thus far we have done nothing 
and we have lost more than a day.” 

“It strikes me that we have done a great deal. 
That is unless you think forty miles on the rail- 
road ties isn’t anything. It’s a whole lot to 
me.” 

For the first five miles of the journey up the 
mountain the trail was a fairly good wagon trail. 
After the five-mile limit it began to narrow and 


42 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


become more rugged, until at last it dwindled 
to a mere bridle path, now rising up the moun- 
tain side, now dropping into the dark, cool 
depths of a narrow walled-in canyon. 

As they proceeded, Rogers was continually ex- 
claiming over the beauties of the scenery. His 
eyes sparkled, his face was flushed. He was 
nearer perfect happiness than he ever had been 
in his life before. Here and there a darting 
animal would cause a rustling in the bushes 
near the trail. Glen edged to the far side of 
the trail in these instances, but Rodney did not. 
He seemed to feel that it was all a part and 
parcel of Nature ^s great scheme. He loved it 
already; he would always love it. 

About ten o^clock they met a horseman com- 
ing down the trail. The man was a real cowboy, 
with a revolver stuck in each side of his belt. 
He eyed the boys closely as they approached. 

Rod swung his hand in salute as he came up. 

‘‘Will you please tell us where we may find 
Mr. Neville?^’ asked the lad. 

“He’s over to the Number Four Ranch this 
momin’, I reckon. Whar you kids hail from?” 

“From Butte, Montana.” 

“Hike it?” 

“Part of the way,” admitted Rogers, with a 
grin. “Will you tell us how to reach the Num- 
ber Four?” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 43 


‘^Foller your noses till you come to the second 
notch road- Take the right-hand trail over the 
mountain down into the valley. You 11 find him 
down thar somewhere. 

Thank you. Are there any buildings there 
so we shall know when we get to the place U ^ 
reckon thar is.’’ 

^^Thankyou.’^ 

The two lads moved forward, Rodney with 
brisk step, Glen fairly dragging his feet behind 
him. The cowboy turned in his saddle to watch 
them as they plodded along, then muttering to 
himself, touched his pony with the spurs and 
trotted on down the trail toward Shelby. 

It was an hour later when the Range and 
Grange Hustlers found themselves stumbling 
down the mountain side into the valley where 
the Number Four Ranch was located. 'When 
about half way down they made out several long 
sheep sheds. That is, Stevens said they were 
sheep sheds. Rodney called them bams. Every- 
thing that wasn’t a house was a barn to him. 

‘‘They use those sheds for housing the sheep 
sometimes in the winter when the snow gets too 
deep for the sheep to be out on the range.” 

“Y^at? Do they stay out all winter?” 

“I guess they do, most of the winter. ” 

“It is a wonder they don’t freeze.” 

“They wear wool clothing.” laughed Stevens. 


44 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


Eodney took no notice of the joke. He was 
walking more rapidly now. At last they reached 
the valley and after some little search fonnd a 
man who directed them to the grazing grounds 
where the foreman was giving directions to a 
shepherd. 

Eogers introduced himself and Jbis companion, 
presenting Captain Woods’s letter. The. fore- 
man read it through, then examined the lads with 
a critical gaze. 

^AVant to go to work, eh?” 

‘^Yes, sir.” 

‘ ‘ Ever work on a ranch ? ” he questioned, turn- 
ing to Stevens. 

‘ ^ Oh, yes. ’ ’ 

^^And you?” 

have never been on a ranch before,” ad- 
mitted Eodney truthfully. 

The foreman grunted. 

‘‘You hiked it out here?” 

“Yes, sir.” 

‘ ‘ Then I guess you must want to work. You ’ll 
do, but I’ll see what you’re good for before I 
set you at anything serious. Know where the 
ranch house is?” 

“No, sir,” said Eodney. 

“It’s over yonder,” pointing to a blue range 
of mountain beyond the mountain they had de- 
scended to get to the Number Four. “It’s dawn 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 45 


in Coyote Canyon. You can’t miss it if you 
follow the trail straight over the mountain.” 

^‘How far is it, sir?” 

‘‘Nigh onto six miles, as the bird flies.” 

Stevens uttered a suppressed groan. 

“What shall we do when we get there, sir?” 
asked Rodney. 

“You are to see Bert Hedges, the assistant 
foreman. Tell him I said to set you two at doing 
odd jobs around the place. I’ll see you later, 
to-day or to-morrow.” 

“Where are we to live?” 

“He’ll tell you about that.” 

“Thank you.” 

“Where is the Silver Bow Ranch?” spoke 
up Stevens. 

“You’re on it now. There are dozens of 
ranches in the Silver Bow. That’s the name 
of the main establishment. This is the Number 
Four, the one you are going to is the Home, 
and so on.” 

“Where is the Great Divide?” 

“You’ll be on the slope of it when you get 
to the Home Ranch. That’s all. Ask Hedges 
about anything you want to know. I’ve got to 
be otf to the other side of the range.” 

Waving good-bye by a pleasant gesture, Ne- 
ville swung into his saddle and trotted oft, leav- 
ing the lads looking after him. 


46 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


are on the last lap now, Glen,’^ smiled 
Eodney reassuringly. suppose you will be 
glad to reach a stopping place T’ 

^^Eather,^’ admitted the lad, making a wry 
face. 

The sun beat down on them fiercely. Being 
still in the valley, there was no breeze at all. 
The trail was rougher, causing the boys to 
stumble many times. Eodney thought it the 
toughest traveling he ever had experienced, but 
he said nothing to his companion. Eod did not 
care for himself. He was enjoying this new ex- 
perience too keenly to complain. He was about 
to realize his heart’s desire and that was enough 
to make any boy happy. 

Noon came and passed, as they judged from 
the position of the sun. They were not making 
very rapid progress and it was well along in 
the afternoon before they made the top of the 
mountain. Stevens was staggering. 

‘^Say, boy, what are you made of, cast ironT^ 
Glen gasped, sinking down on a boulder. 

^‘What’s the matter — tired?” questioned - 
Eodney, halting and turning to his companion. 

‘^No; oh, no, not tired. I have a little lead 
in my shoes, that’s all,” answered Stevens, tak- 
ing his shoes off to cool his burning feet. 

‘^We will rest a few minutes, nodded Eod- 
ney, taking a seat beside him. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 47 


CHAPTER V 

IN HUMBLE PLACES 

T he Home Ranch was finally reached, with 
Glen Stevens limping painfully, Rodney 
Rogers refraining from doing so by 
sheer force of will. His inclination was not 
only to limp, but to throw himself on the ground 
and give way to his weariness. It must be re- 
membered that neither boy had eaten in nearly 
two days. From present appearances it might 
be two days more before they obtained a meal. 

Bert Hedges, the assistant foreman, was out 
superintending the building of a wire fence 
about a new corral. He was just starting for 
the ranch house when the boys met him. They 
presented themselves, told him what they 
wanted, then waited for his orders. 

Hedges was a man of few words. He had 
come up from the ranks, but he knew his busi- 
ness and expected every other man under him 
to know his as well. 

^^Come over to the ranch house, growled 
Bert. 

Arriving there he sat down on a stone, re- 
garding the boys with disapproving eyes. They 
wore white collars, or collars that had once 


48 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


been white, which, in the eyes of the foreman, 
was almost a crime. Worse still, the Eange 
and Grange Hustlers had on boiled shirts, 
though it was true the shirts looked as though 
they had not been boiled in a long time. 

Hedges asked them several pointed ques- 
tions in short, jerky sentences. Bert could find 
no fault with the answers, but he had no relish 
for breaking in a couple of ‘‘kid tenderfeet’’ 
where real men were in demand. 

“What kin you do?^’ he demanded, eyeing 
Eod sternly. 

“I donT know till I try. I am willing to 
tackle anything at which you want to set me.” 

“Huh! And you, Stevens?” 

“I am good for any kind of job.” 

“Here! You two git out and help build that 
fence. Wefil see whether you kin work or not. 
Wait, Ifil go along with you.” 

“Bert!” called a shrill voice. 

“ Wait a minute. ’ ’ Then, turning to a nearby 
house, he shouted: “What is it?” 

“Are you going to send somebody in to do 
that churning for me?” 

“Ever churn?” he asked, turning to Eodney. 

“No, sir.” 

“Good time to learn. Go to it. My wife 
will tell you what to do,” said Hedges, his 
brow wrinkling into a puckered smile. “You, 


HUSTLEES ON THE EANCH 49 


Stevens, come with me. ^ ^ Then, addressing his 
wife, Bert called: ‘‘This kid will pound the 
cream for you. You’ll have to tell him what 
to do. He’s a tenderfoot.” 

Eodney turned toward the ranch house, a 
low, one-storied structure, constructed partly 
of logs, partly of slabs, with here and there a 
section of rough boards. 

Mrs. Hedges, the assistant foreman’s wife, 
regarded the lad with kindly eyes. She had 
boys of her own and the sight of the little ten- 
derfoot excited a motherly sympathy in her 
heart. She shook hands with Eodney, then 
began a rapid fire of questions. Within a few 
minutes she possessed a fairly good knowledge 
of his history as well as that of his entire fam- 

iiy- 

Eod wanted to ask her for something to eat. 
Perhaps he would have done so had Glen been 
there, but he was too loyal to eat while his com- 
panion went hungry, so the lad with a firm 
etfort of will put down his gnawmg hunger. 

“You wanted me to do something, did you 
not, Mrs. Hedges?’^ he asked. 

“Yes, that churning ought to have been done 
yesterday. The cream’s going back. Bert 
promised to have one of the hands attend to 
it this morning, but he forgot all about it. You 
see I’ve got so much to do that I can’t attend 


-/ Range and Grange. 


50 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


to the churning. IVe got to go out and pick 
some berries for supper. Bert just dotes on 
berry pies, and if I do say it, I can make finer 
berry pies than any woman on the range. 

This conversation did not tend to add to Rod- 
ney Rogers’ peace of mind. He moistened his 
lips with his tongue, swallowed with a gulp and 
nodded. 

^‘Yes, ma’am,” he said. am sure you 
can. Where is the chum?” 

‘‘Out behind the house. I’ll wash the chum 
and fetch the cream. No, you scald the churn 
while I go for the cream. You’ll find the hot 
water in the kitchen in the reservoir.” 

Rod did as she directed; that is, he went to 
the kitchen, where, finding a dipper, he dipped 
up some boiling water, which he carried out 
behind the house. The chum was there, hut 
the lad knew no more about scalding a chum 
than he did about dipping sheep. He dashed 
the dipper of water over the chum, some of 
which ran down around the dasher into the 
ehurn itself, but not enough to properly scald it. 

“What, have you finished so quickly?” ques- 
tioned Mrs. Hedges as she came up with a pan 
of cream in either hand. 

“I poured some water over the thing, 
ma’am.” 

“Oh, goodness me, that’s not the way to scald 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 51 


a chum. Go fetch a pail of boiling water. You 
will find a fourteen quart pail in the pantry.’^ 
While Rodney, somewhat chagrined, was 
bringing the water, Mrs. Hedges had jerked 
the dasher up, removing the cover of the chum 
with it. When Rod returned with the water 
she dashed it into the chum, then grabbing the 
rim of the churn she began shaking the water 
about on the inside, the rising steam envelop- 
ing her head so that for the moment it was 
wholly hidden in the vaporous cloud. 

< < There, that ’s the way to do it, ’ ’ announced 
the woman, straightening up, wiping the mois- 
ture from her face and forehead with her apron, 
^A'^ou’ll know how next time.^^ 

‘A"es, but why do you scald the chumU^ 
questioned Rogers, with his usual desire to get 
to the bottom of things. 

^^To clean it, of course. Then it’s good for 
the cream, too.” 

By this time Mrs. Hedges was emptying the 
cream from the pans into the chum. This done, 
she returned to the cellar for more, until at last 
the churn was a little more than half full. Re- 
placing the dasher, she drove it down into the 
cream a few times, then nodded to Rodney. 

^Llll ready now. If the butter doesn’t come 
quickly enough you just pour in some water. 
Mdien the butter has come, take it out and put 


52 THE RANGE AND GRANGE 


it in the butter bowl that I am scalding in the 
kitchen. Squeeze all the water out of the but- 
ter that you can then put the butter into the 
cellar. I will do the rest when I get back. Do 
you understand?^’ 

^^Ob, yes, I think so. It seems easy enough. 
I am sure any one could attend to the churn- 
ing after your explanation.” 

^^You are a good boy,” nodded Mrs. Hedges, 
pleased at his politeness and deference toward 
her. ^‘Now I’ll go after the berries. If I have 
good luck I shall be back in an hour or an hour 
and a quarter. When you get through you sit 
down and rest yourself. You look all tuckered 
out.” 

am a little tired,” confessed the lad. 
‘‘That doesn’t matter, though. I am glad to 
be at work, ’ ’ he said, grasping the dasher, hold- 
ing to it with a tight grip. At first, he was very 
awkward, but in a moment or so he got the 
knack of it and began pounding the cream with 
strong, steady strokes. 

“You don’t have to pound so hard,” laughed 
Mrs. Hedges. “ Anybody ’d think you were try- 
ing to knock the bottom out of the churn. There, 
that’s better. Keep it up that way,” she added, 
placing her finger against the sliding dasher, 
carrying a speck of cream to her lips, tasting 
it gingerly and critically. The woman nodded. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 53 


The condition of the cream evidently was sat- 
isfactory. With a smile at Rodney she disap- 
peared into the house, reappearing a moment 
later with a tin pail. Then she hurried off 
across the back yard, headed for a certain spot 
where she knew she would be certain to find 
the luscious berries she was in search of. 

Rod watched her until she was out of sight. 

^‘They do know how to do things out here,’’ 
he mused. ‘‘I wish I knew half as much about 
ranching as Mrs. Hedges. I’ll wager she could 
run a ranch all by herself. Hello, where did 
you come from?” 

A sheep dog had suddenly appeared around 
the corner of the house. The dog surveyed the 
boy briefly, then trotting up smelled at Rod’s 
leg, at first sniffing suspiciously; then wagging 
his tail in approval, the dog trotted off and 
lay down in the shade. 

‘^Evidently he is satisfied with me,” laughed 
Rogers. ‘Mt is lucky for me that he is, or this 
churning might not have been finished on 
time. ’ ’ 

For the following thirty minutes, the churn- 
ing went on ceaselessly, but Rod was surprised 
to find that the dasher, at first so light, was 
growing heavier with every moment. Then, for 
the first time, he turned his attention to his sur- 
roundings to take his mind from his weariness. 


54 THE RANGE AND GRANGE 

A brooding silence lay over all, tlie silence of 
the mountain fastness. He felt as he never had 
felt before, the vastness of the world about him 
and realized more than ever his own insig- 
nificance. 

A fly now and then buzzed at his ear; occa- 
sionally a bee would dart by him, missing the 
lad’s nose by a narrow margin, and once in a 
while a bird would trill a bar of sweet song as 
it sped by on fleet wings. 

‘ ‘ Glorious ! ’ ’ breathed the boy. He smiled as 
he thought of the name they had adopted for 
themselves. ^Hnstead of being a Range and 
Grange Hustler I am a chum hustler just now. ’ ’ 
Rod laughed aloud at the thought. 

A large cat strolled out from under the house, 
stretched until Rod feared she would injure her- 
self, yawned and trotted over near the chum. 
There the cat licked up some specks of cream 
that had spattered out over the grass. 

guess she must be hungry,” decided the 
boy, wiping the dasher with a finger, which he 
extended to the cat. She licked the cream from 
the finger, mewing for more. 

Rod decided that he would sample the cream 
for himself. He had seen Mrs. Hedges do this. 
Perhaps he would learn something by doing 
so. With the same finger he wiped the dasher, 
passing it to his lips. Young Rogers made a 


HUSTLEES ON THE RANCH 55 


wry face. The cream was bitter and unpleas- 
ant. 

^ ^ Ugh ! I hope the butter doesn T taste as bad 
as the cream. If so I am afraid I shall not eat 
much butter.’’ 

It was the flavor of the mountain sage that . 
he tasted, a flavor that he was destined to find 
in his food frequently while living in the moun- 
tains, hut Rod did not understand. 

Still the butter did not come. He thought 
it should have done so long before. 

^ ‘ Perhaps it has come, ’ ’ decided the lad. ‘ ^ I ’ll 
take a look and find out.” 

Opening the chum, he gazed in with wrinkled 
forehead and perplexed eyes. There were no 
signs of butter; at least nothing down there was 
like any butter he had ever seen. 

^Ht looks to me more like whipped cream 
than anything else,” muttered the lad. be- 
lieve it is whipped cream. Come to think of it 
that’s the way mother makes whipped cream. 
She whips it or pounds it just as I am doing 
here. I know what ’s the matter, it needs water. 
Mrs. Hedges said I was to put water in if the 
butter did not come quickly enough.” 

The pail in which he had carried the hot 
water to scald the chum still stood on the 
ground near him. Rod, after a moment’s hesi- 
tation, took the pail to the well, where he filled 


56 THE RANGE AND GRANGE 


it. The pail held fourteeen quarts of water. 
Removing the cover of the churn again, the lad 
poured the whole fourteen quarts into the 
churn. 

There, if the whipped cream doesnT stop 
growing into whipped cream and become but- 
ter, I donT know how to make it do so,’’ he 
exclaimed, replacing the cover and beginning 
to churn again. 

Now the contents of the churn spattered more 
than before, shooting up at the sides of the 
dasher like a miniature geyser, splashing over 
his face, his clothes and into his hair until Rod 
was forced to stop frequently to wipe away the 
cream. 

He was perspiring freely and he was troubled. 
He wondered if there were any danger of spoil- 
ing the churning. As a matter of fact he had 
done all he could in the way of spoiling it al- 
ready. He should have added not more than 
a pint of water, and it should have been boil- 
ing at that. Instead he had put in fourteen 
quarts of water from the pump almost as cold 
as ice water. Still he wondered why the but- 
ter did not come. 

Rodney had been pounding the dasher up and 
down, shifting from one foot to the other, for 
something like an hour and a half when he 
espied Mrs. Hedges returning. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 57 


^‘What, liasnT that butter come yetU’ she 
called when within hailing distance. 

— I am afraid it hasnT. If it has I donT 
know it/^ answered Rod somewhat discon- 
solately. canT imagine what is the matter 
with the stuff. Are you sure the cream is ripe? ^ ^ 

‘‘Ripe?’’ repeated the ranch woman. 

“Yes, ready to make butter?” 

Mrs. Hedges laughed merrily. 

‘ ‘ Of course it is ripe. Have you been churn- 
ing all the time?” 

“Yes, ma’am.” 

“Let me look at it.” 

Removing the cover, the woman peered down 
int/'.the chum, stirring the contents with the 
dasiier. 

“It has grown thinner instead of thicker,” 
ventured Rodney. 

“Did you put some water in, boy?” 

“Yes, I put a pailful in, but it didn’t seem 
to make any difference.” 

“A — a pailful?” gasped Mrs. Hedges. 

“Yes, wasn’t that right?” 

“Whe — where did you get the water?” 

“From the pump, of course.” 

The ranch woman threw up her hands in 
despair. 

“From the pump?” 

“Yes, ma’am — wasn’t that right?” 


58 THE RANGE AND GRANGE 


^^YouVe spoiled the churning, yonVe 

Mrs. Hedges’ emotion was too great for words. 
She did not scold. Instead she sat down on 
the grass laughing till the tears ran down her 
cheeks, some drops finding their wav into the 
pail of berries that she had picked while Rod - 
ney Rogers was doing the semi-weekly churn- 
ing. 

^Hs — is it all spoiled!” stammered the boy. 

^Ht’s good for the pigs, boy; that’s about all 
it is good for now. Never mind, we won’t say 
anything to Bert about it. He might get 
grouchy if he knew we had wasted the cream. 
Perhaps I may be able to make some use of it 
so we won’t have to feed it to the pigs, after 
all.” 

^ ‘ Thank you ; you are kinder to me than I de- 
serve,” murmured Rodney, wiping the per- 
spiration from his face. guess I am mak- 
ing a mess of ranching right from the begin- 
ning. What shall I do now!” 

^‘You might split some wood, but please 
don’t cut off your foot. There isn’t a doctor 
within a dozen miles of here and you’d bleed 
to death before he could get one here. ’ ’ 

Thus warned, Rodney started in to try his 
hand at wood-splitting. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 59 


CHAPTER VI 

BECOMIITG A REAL COWBOY 

F or two long weary hours, Rodney con- 
tinued steadily at his task of splitting 
wood. The pile did not grow very fast, 
but the lad could congratulate himself that he 
had not chopped himself up, though several 
nicks in his left shoe bore evidence of the nar- 
row escapes that he had had. The edge of the 
sole had been pretty well gashed by the sharp 
axe. 

Still, with every fresh piece of wood Rodney 
was improving. He was quick to learn, taking 
advantage of every opportunity to do so. The 
call of the soil was just as strong upon him as 
before he left home. His hard luck and the 
hardships that he had undergone had not dimin- 
ished his enthusiasm for the new life in the 
slightest. 

In the meantime, Glen Stevens was laboring 
by the sweat of his brow out on the range, 
where he was assisting in the building of the 
corral. Glen’s duty was to work the wire- 
stretcher, stretching the strands taut as the 
men put them in place and secured them. For- 
tunately he had done the work before, so he 


60 THE RANGE AND GRANGE 


was not subject to the criticism of tbe men. 
Glen was fairly familiar with the ordinary 
methods of the farm. This was an actual farm 
on which he was now employed. On the Home 
Ranch Mr. Woods raised the grain for the feed- 
ing of the horses and other stock when neces- 
sary during a particularly hard winter. The 
operations were carried on on a large scale on 
the farm as well as on the range. Rodney 
would have preferred to he out there with his 
companion rather than doing chores about the 
house, but he was a good little soldier. He did 
what he was told to do, and did it to the best 
of his ability without grumbling, realizing that 
he must begin at the bottom if he expected to 
obtain an intimate knowledge of the entire 
business. 

Bert Hedges came in about half past six that 
night. He had forgotten all about the new boy 
at the ranch house until he caught sight of Rod 
splitting wood. 

‘^New business, ehT’ he questioned after 
watching operations for a few moments. 

‘Wes, sir.’^ 

“Huh! You^re about as handy as a long- 
horned maverick. That other kid will be in 
pretty soon. You and he will bring in the cows 
and milk them.’^ 

“Yes, sir, where are they?’’ 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 61 


The foreman indicated that they were out on 
the range by a wide sweep of his right hand 
which appeared to cover about half of the com- 
pass. Rod did not press him for further in- 
formation. Instead, the lad waited until Mrs. 
Hedges came out. He asked her where the cows 
might be found. She directed him, advising 
him to take the dog with him. The dog she 
said would find them where the boys might not 
see the animals. 

Rod thanked her and went on with his 
humble occupation until Stevens came in about 
seven o’clock. 

The boys started off in search of the cows. 

^^How do you feelf” questioned Rogers, 
never was so tired in my life. That fel- 
low Hedges knows his business, but he is a 
driver if ever there was one. Now we’ve got 
to find the cows and milk them. I wonder why 
he had to chase us off this way after all we 
have gone through?” 

Because we are boys, I suppose. Boys have 
to take the fag end of everything. That’s the 
only way they can learn properly, and besides 
it makes men of them. We will be all the bet- 
ter for our experiences.” 

‘‘Maybe,” answered Glen in a doubtful tone. 
“You seem to know where you are going. Did 
he tell you where the cows are?” 


62 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


^^No; Mrs. Hedges did.’’ 

the way, what have you been doing all 
the afternoon — see here, did yon get something 
to eat?” demanded Stevens suddenly. 

‘^No, I didn’t. Do you think I would eat 
when I knew how hungry you were out there 
on the ranch?” 

Glen gave his companion a grateful look. 

^‘You are all to the good, Eoddy. I’ve said 
it before, I say it again. I’d drive it in with 
a hammer if I had one.” 

^^You asked me what I had been doing. For 
one thing, I churned a good part of the after- 
noon.” 

^^A dairy maid,” laughed the boy. ‘‘Mak- 
ing butter, eh?” 

“No, I didn’t make any butter. I made at 
it. First I made whipped cream, then the whole 
business got so thin that it turned to water, 
then Mrs. Hedges came home and I changed 
my occupation to wood-splitting,” added 
Eod, with a forced smile. 

Glen roared. He leaned against a rock with 
both hands pressed against his cheeks while 
he laughed. 

“Oh, you greenie!” he cried. 

“I am more than that,” declared Eodney. 
“I’m a tenderfoot, but I shan’t be that always. 
I knew I should have a time of it. I am not 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 63 


tlirough with my troubles yet. I expect they 
are piling up almost as high as this mountain 
for me. You will have to help me out.’^ 
‘‘Certainly, I will,’^ answered Glen eagerly. 
“Just tell me what you want to know and I 
shall be able to give you some sort of an idea. ^ ’ 
“I will when I think of anything. Probably 
when I do think of it, you will be off on the 
ranch somewhere and 1^11 have to go it alone,^ 
the same as I did with the churning. Do you 
know how to chum?’^ 

“I ought to. I have done enough of it.^' 
“It^s a pity Mr. Hedges didn’t turn you loose 
on the churning, then.” 

“Yes, and I tremble to think what would have 
happened to you tr^dng to stretch wire fence,” 
laughed Glen. “It takes a man who knows how 
to stretch wire fence properly, and those fellows 
were ready to give me the boot if I didn’t do 
the work right. I saw it in their eyes. How- 
ever, they didn’t get the chance,” added the lad, 
nodding his satisfaction. “I guess the dog must 
have found the cows, from the way he is bark- 
ing.” 

The dog had found them. Soon they saw the 
cows come ambling across a sage patch with 
the dog bunching them together as he darted 
here and there, making considerable noise, but 
not attempting to bite the animals. 


64 THE RANGE AND GRAK 


Rodney called the dog off. 

^^No use to scare them like that/’ h . : 

Glen langhed. 

‘^Yon are a tenderfoot, aren’t yoiiY 

told you I was. I don’t know much, hut 
I shouldn’t think it good for milch cows to be 
raced up and down hill. Their milk might boil. ’ ’ 

‘^Boil!” jeered Stevens. ‘^For goodness sake 
don’t repeat that to anyone here or you never 
will hear the last of it. Even if it did, you 
could cool it with a pail of water from the 
pump, ’ ’ added Glen maliciously. 

The cows were guided down to the ranch house 
by the dog, the boys not having very much to 
do with the driving. The animals were driven 
into a corral, after which the lads went to the 
kitchen for the milk pails. By this time the 
hands had come in from the ranch and were 
sitting down to supper. The Range and Grange 
Hustlers gazed at the cook shack wistfully. 

^^Do we have to milk before we get our sup- 
pers'?” asked Rodney. 

‘Ht looks that way. The milking on a farm 
is usually done before supper.” 

‘^Then I hope I don’t have to smell the odor 
of the food many more minutes. If I do, I know 
it will drive me to do something desperate.” 

^‘Come on, let’s go and milk. The sooner we 
finish the quicker we shall get our supper.” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 65 


Rodney started for the corral on a trot. Glen 
did not run. He was too lame and stiff for that. 
Every step he took causing liim to twist his 
mouth and squint one eye. 

‘‘Say, did you ever milk a cowU’ questioned 
Glen, as he entered the corral. 

“No; but I have watched others do it. It 
isnT a hard thing to do, provided the cow isn^t 
ugly. These cows seem to be tame enough. ’ ^ 
“Oh, yes, they are tame enough, admitted 
Stevens, turning his face away to hide the smile 
that he could not repress. ‘ ‘ Which one are you 
going to tackle first?’’ 

“I think I’ll take the brown one.^’ 

“All right; one cow looks the same as another 
to me,’^ answered Glen, sitting down on his 
milk stool and starting in. For the moment he 
lost sight of Rodney, who was saying “so boss”’ 
to the brown cow, a large Hurham-Hereford. 

Rod had approached her from the rear on 
the left side. Now, as every lad who has been 
brought up on a farm weU knows, no self- 
respecting cow cares to be milked from the 
left side. The Durham-Hereford apparently 
belonged to this class, for she turned a look 
of mild surprise upon Rodney Rogers as he 
drew the milk stool up close to her, speaking 
soothing words calculated to calm any fears that 
she might feel as to his ability to milk her. 


-/ Range and Grange. 


66 THE RANGE AND GRANGE 


^^How are you getting along over there? 
called Glen. 

‘‘All right so far as I have gone,^^ answered 
Rogers. “This is one thing I guess I shall be 
able to do right. 

The splash of the milk in Glen’s pail drowned 
the sound of his companion’s voice. Rodney 
settled down to milk, but to his surprise no milk 
came. The cow, too, began to grow restless. 
She swished her tail right into the lad’s face. 
The hairs at the end of the tail got into his eyes 
and mouth, causing him to splutter and scold. 

‘ ‘ So, so, boss, ’ ’ he commanded with some im- 
patience. “So! What’s the matter with you*? 
I’m not going to hurt you.” 

The boy put on more pressure in an etfort 
to start the flow of milk, but with no better re- 
sult than before. Not a drop of milk rewarded 
his etfort. 

“I don’t believe the old cow has any milk,” 
he decided. “Hey, Glen!” 

“What is it?” 

“This must be one of the kind of cows that 
haven’t any milk.” 

“Fiddlesticks!” 

“I can’t get a drop.” 

“Pull down hard,” advised Glen. 

Rodney followed the other boy’s advice. 

This settled it. The brown cow could stand 


HUSTLEES ON THE RANCH 67 


it no longer. Her left hind foot came np with 
lightning-like quickness. It caught Rodney on 
the right shoulder, sending him sprawling on 
his back shouting for help. 

Then the Durham-Hereford calmly slammed 
the same foot down into the milk pail, punching 
a hole right through the bottom, after which she 
trotted off to the opposite side of the corral and 
began chewing her cud, apparently well satis- 
fied with having done her full duty. 


68 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


CHAPTER VII 

OUT WITH THE HAYMAKEKS 

“TXTHAT^S the matter P’ 

Glen, aroused by the clatter and 
the shout, sprang back from the cow 
he was milking, hastening over to Rodney, who 
was picking himself up from where the cow had 
sent him. 

^‘She kicked me, I guess.’’ 

‘^The flies were bothering her. Are you 
hurt?” 

^‘No, I guess it was something besides flies. 
I never thought a cow could kick so high nor 
so quick. My shoulder hurts a little where she 
landed on me, but I guess it ’s all right. ’ ’ 

‘^Look here, old man, you sit down on the 
fence. I’ll milk these cows. You just keep out 
of it. I should not have let you try it in the 
first place,” urged Glen. 

^ ‘ Think I ’m a baby ? ’ ’ demanded Rodney. ^ ‘ I 
was sent to milk the cows, and I ’m going to milk 
my share of them if it takes me till breakfast 
time to do it. I am going to milk that par- 
ticular brown one first; then I will try some 
of the others. I want you to show me how to 
milk. I guess I don’t know how.” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 69 


Rogers’ jaws were set. The kick had stirred 
him up. His dogged determination had been 
aroused, and perhaps it was a good thing for 
him. He had thrown off what little timidity had 
taken possession of him. Rod meant business 
now. 

Glen beckoned his companion to him as he 
sat down by the cow that he had left off milk- 
ing so hurriedly, then taking Rodney’s hand, 
taught him how to make the milk flow. 

^^But you told me to pull before,” protested 
Rogers. 

^‘That was just a joke. I didn’t think you 
would take my advice seriously.” 

‘^All right; I’ll even up with you one of 
these times. I notice that you are sitting on 
the right side of the cow. Does it make any 
difference on which side one sitsf” 

‘^Does it? I should say it did. You weren’t 
sitting on the left side of the brown cow, were 
you?” 

‘‘Yes.” 

“Ho, ho! no wonder she objected. Wait till 
I finish here and I’ll get you started right.” 

A few moments later, Rodney taking another 
pail, seated himself by the brown cow once more, 
this time on the right side, with his head bur- 
rowed against her side. This time he succeeded 
in getting some milk. Glen tried her with one 


70 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


hand, deciding that his chnm had picked out 
the hardest milker in the herd. Eodney per- 
sisted, however. It took him a long time, but 
he finally triumphed, coming away with a ten- 
quart pail full of milk. 

‘H’d like to have a drink of that, but I guess 
I won’t. It might spoil my aiopetite for sup- 
per. ’ ’ 

The next cow he milked with better success. 
It came much easier and before the lad realized 
it there were no more cows to milk. Each boy 
had milked three cows. This was doing very 
well, considering that young Eogers had never 
tried to milk a cow before. 

They lost no time in getting back to the ranch 
house, where they deposited their milk in the 
kitchen. Mrs. Hedges took charge of it, and 
there their responsibility ended. The men had 
finished supper by that time and gone out doors 
to sit in the cool of the evening and talk. Mrs. 
Hedges waited on the two lads. She saw at 
once that they were ravenously hungry. 

am glad to see that you boys have good 
appetites,” she smiled. ‘Ht is always a hopeful 
sign to see boys have natural appetites.” 

‘‘We ought to have good appetites, seeing 
that we haven T had anything to eat for two 
days,” Glen blurted out. 

“What — two days?” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 71 


'^‘Yes, ma^am/^ 

<<Por goodness sake! You donT mean itV’ 

Rodney nudged his companion to keep still, 
but once started, Glen could not stop. 

^^Yes, ma^am.^’ 

^^Why notr^ demanded Mrs. Hedges, leaning 
her elbows on the table on the opposite side and 
regarding the lads inquiringly. 

Glen told her the whole story. He had an 
attentive listener to the close of his narrative. 

‘‘Why didn’t you tell me this afternoon that 
you were hungry, Rodney?” she asked. 

“Be — because Glen was out in the field at 
work. He was just as hungry as I was, and I 
didn ’t want to eat until he could eat, too, ’ ’ was 
the reply. 

“Well, if that doesn’t beat all!” wondered the 
ranch woman. “I’ll bet none of my boys would 
have done that. And you haven’t had a thing 
to eat since you left home, poor boys?” 

‘ ‘ N othing except some berries. W e don ’t care 
now, do we. Rod ? ’ ’ 

“No. Our doctor says folks eat too much, 
anyway, but I know I never did.” 

There was not much left on the table when 
the boys had finished. As he rose from the 
table Rodney stopped short. 

“Mrs. Hedges, have you any postage stamps 
in the house?” 


J2 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


*^‘Wli7 yes, I guess so.’’ 

AVill you let me have a few? I will pay you 
back when I get my pay at the end of the 
month. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Sure, my boy, don ’t you trouble about that. ’ ’ 

^AVhat, going to write a letter?” questioned 
Glen. 

Rodney nodded. 

<<I’m going to bed,” said Stevens. ‘^Whom 
are you going to write to in such a hurry?” 

‘H haven’t been in much of a hurry. I had 
almost forgotten,” confessed the lad. ‘H’m 
going to write to the best mother in the world. 
Don’t you write to yours?” 

^‘Yes, but I guess I will wait till to-morrow 
night. To tell the truth, I am so tired that I 
couldn’t hold a pen to-night.” 

Rodney borrowed a lantern that was standing 
outside. Placing this on the chopping block 
where he had been splitting wood, he sat down 
with pad on his knee to write his letter. It 
was a long one, recounting in detail all that had 
taken place since he left home two days be- 
fore. The letter was full of cheerfulness, a let- 
ter calculated to make Rodney mother rejoice 
with him that he was on the eve of realizing his 
heart’s desire. 

Now and then a farm hand would pass with 
a jeering remark about the boy and his letter 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 73 


writing, to none of which did Rogers make re- 
ply. In fact, so deeply interested was he in his 
letter that it is doubtful if he heard what was 
said to him. 

Mrs. Hedges came out after a while, urging 
Rodney to turn in. He told her that he would 
do so as soon as he finished, at the same time 
asking where he might take a bath. 

^^Over in the creek beyond the corral, was 
the reply. ‘‘YouT find it mighty cold. Better 
wait till sun up before you wash down.’^ 

‘‘No, I think I prefer to bathe to-night. I 
haven T had a bath for so long that I am ashamed 
of myself, ^ ^ laughed the lad. 

Rodney was destined not to get his bath that 
night, however. Slowly and more slowly did 
the pencil travel over the faintly lighted page, 
finally stopping altogether. The head of the 
young Range and Grange Hustler drooped until 
his chin touched his breast, the pencil dropped 
from his tired fingers and slid off to the ground. 

Little by little Rodney slipped down until 
at last he gradually sank to the ground, where 
he lay stretched out sound asleep. Nature could 
be denied no longer, despite the strong will of 
Rodney Rogers. No one on the ranch gave him 
a thought, so the lad lay out under the stars, 
his clothing wet with the mountain dew through- 
out the long night, and until rough hands shook 


74 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


him violently just as the sun was peeping over 
the eastern range next morning. 

^‘Git up, lazy!’^ commanded Bert Hedges. 
^Ht^s the hay field for yours. Hustle out and 
help milk those cows, then git your breakfast 
and be ready to start for the field. Be sure 
you eat enough this time to last you till noon, ’ ^ 
added the foreman, whose wife had told him 
of the experiences of the boys and their long 
fast on the way to the ranch. 

Rodney pulled himself together sharply. The 
letter to his mother was as wet from the dew 
as if it had been soaked under the pump. Rogers 
folded it up tenderly, stowing it away in his 
pocket until he should find an opportunity to 
dry it. He did not know when he would be able 
to send the letter on its way. 

Glen already was up and out. He shook his 
head when told that his companion had lain out 
of doors all night. 

You ’ll get your death doing that sort of 
thing, Roddy. Why don’t you go to bed like 
other folks'? You will do so before you have 
been up here long. A day in the field will make 
you glad enough to tumble into your bunk.^^ 

^ H ’m all right. Don ’t worry about me, Glen. ’ ’ 
^^How did you sleep?” 

don’t know. I was too busy sleeping to 
think about it.” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 75 


‘‘Well, so was I,’’ admitted Stevens, laugh- 
ingly. 

The first work of the morning was the milk- 
ing. This time Rodney got along very nicely. 
The brown cow regarded him kindly, offering 
no further objection to the young man’s milking 
methods. 

By the time the boys got back to the ranch 
house the men had finished their breakfasts and 
had started for the fields. Again the lads ate 
by themselves. They did not mind this at all. 
For Mrs. Hedges saw to it that they had plenty 
to eat. Her husband had left orders for the 
chore boys to follow on to the field as soon as 
they had finished their breakfast, and to lose 
no time in getting there. Rodney looked for- 
ward to his first day in the fields with keen 
anticipation. He preferred to be out where real 
work was being done, rather than doing chores 
about the ranch house. 

The sheep dog had by this time attached him- 
self to Rod, apparently having taken a great 
liking to the lad. The name of the dog was 
Yellow Face, a bright-eyed, intelligent sheep dog 
that was equally at home with cattle. Mrs. 
Hedges was authority for the statement that 
Yellow Face understood every word that was 
said to him, and that he knew more than a good 
many of the men on the ranch. 


76 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


When the hoys started for the fields Yellow 
Face accompanied them, running hack and forth, 
harking and in other ways showing his joy at 
being allowed to go with his new friend. 

wish I owned that dog,’’ nodded Rodney. 

^‘Perhaps they will sell him to you.” 

Rogers laughed. 

‘‘Why, I couldn’t buy even the wag of his 
tail at present. You forget that I haven’t a 
cent. ” 

“No, I don’t forget it, seeing that I am in 
the same fix. But we are all right, plenty to 
eat, a bed and prospects.” 

“Yes, we are lucky boys,” answered Rodney 
reflectively. 

“You may change your mind after you have 
worked in the alfalfa all day. It is heavy stuff. 
Rod, as you will soon learn, and such crops as 
they raise! There is nothing like it on a farm 
either for yield or for feeding value.” 

“Do they use it for feeding?” 

“Of course; what else would it be raised for? 
Alfalfa also is cut and ground into meal. Where 
ordinary hay yields a ton or so to the acre, 
alfalfa yields six or eight tons, three or four 
cuttings. It is a wonderful crop.” 

“Everything is wonderful in Nature,” re- 
flected Rodney. “I see new wonders almost 
every minute.” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 77 


Tlie alfalfa field was nearly four miles from 
the ranch. The Hustlers plodded along in the 
hot morning sun, eager to begin their work. 
Rodney was more anxious to do so than was his 
companion, for there was nothing new about 
this work to Glen, though the Iowa lad was hap- 
piest when out in the fields. It was the life 
that he loved, and farming was a calling that 
he felt offered more advantages than any other. 

As they approached the field, they saw Hedges 
gesticulating, swinging his arms. 

Hurry up!^’ he shouted. 

Some boys would have broken into a run. 
The Hustlers did not. They were walking 
briskly and that was sufficient. This ignoring 
of his command angered the foreman. 

‘‘You lazy lumps!’’ he shouted as they drew 
nearer. “Didn’t I tell you to hurry out here!” 

“We did,” answered Glen. 

“Yes, sir; we came on as soon as possible.” 

“You didn’t!” 

“Sir?” demanded Rodney with rising inflec- 
tion. 

“Are you deaf? I said you didn’t.’^ 

“I do not say things that are untrue. We 
came on as fast as we could walk, after having 
finished the chores.” 

“Why didn’t you run when I shouted to you, 
then?” 


78 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


are not paid for sprinting, sir. We are 
paid for doing a man’s work, and that is what 
we propose to do,” spoke np Eodney boldly. 
‘^What do you wish us to do I” 

Bert Hedges’s face flushed under its tan. 

^^Do? Do? Grab your forks and sail in. 
We’ll see whether you will talk back to me. If 
you weren’t babies I’d teach you a lesson. Get 
in there before I run you otf the place!” 

Broad grins overspread the faces of the men 
at the expense of the lads. Eodney ’s lips tight- 
ened ever so little, but he said nothing. Glen’s 
eyes snapped and he was about to reply when he 
caught a warning look from his companion. 

^ ^ Show him what we can do ; don ’t talk back, ’ ’ 
whispered Eogers. 

With that the young Eange and Grange 
Hustlers began work with a will. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 79 


CHAPTER VIII 

TEACHING OLD DOGS NEW TRICKS 

T aking their forks, the lads ranged up 
by one of the wagons that was being 
loaded. From the field the alfalfa hay 
was carried to the stock sheds and stacked out- 
side for distribution in winter wherever needed. 

Rod never had handled a fork before, and 
it was awkward work for him. He paid no at- 
tention to the jeering remarks of the farm hands, 
who made all manner of sport of his clumsiness. 
On the contrary. Rod was doing his best to learn 
the secret of the work. He copied the men’s 
way of pitching, making his folk fly as fast 
as he could. The result was that most of the 
forkfuls were small and much hay dropped from 
the forks to the ground, necessitating wasting 
time in gathering it up again in shape to be 
loaded. 

In a very short time the Montana boy was 
planning a new method of loading hay. He had 
never thought that there was so much to the 
apparently simple operation of pitching hay. 
He soon saw that the men had no system, that 
they were exerting great effort without ac- 
complishing very much. 


80 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


Rodney tried various methods. This gave him 
the appearance of lagging. Hedges was not slow 
to observe this. He approached the hoy sav- 
agely. 

you can’t hold up your end, get otf the 
field!” he shouted. 

am holding up my end. You don’t see 
me lagging behind, do you 1 demanded Rogers. 

Don’t talk back to me. I’ve heard enough 
of your chatter. Will you do as I tell you?” 

Rod drove the tines of his fork into the ground 
and faced the foreman. 

^‘WTiat is it you want me to do, Mr. Hedges?” 

Pitch hay! Pitch hay!” fairly howled the 
foreman. ^ ‘ And keep your mouth shut ! ’ ’ 

^Wes, sir; I was doing both until you inter- 
rupted me,” replied Rod, pulling his fork from 
the ground and resuming work. 

‘^We shall never get along with him,” said 
Glen in a low tone. 

‘‘Oh, yes we shall. He is excitable, that’s all, 
Glen. Don’t take him too seriously. Let me 
show you something about pitching hay. I’ve 
been studying.” 

“I guess I know how to pitch hay,” scotfed 
Stevens. 

“Of course, hut I’ll show you how to pitch 
more without getting so warm under the collar. 
Now watch me.” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 81 


Glen did watch, keeping one eye on the fore- 
man the while. He admitted to himself that his 
companion certainly had acquired the knack of 
doing the work with the least possible effort, 
but still Glen thought his own way was best, so 
he kept on pitching with all his might as the rest 
of the men were doing. Rodney followed the 
new system he had worked out, the eyes of the 
foreman watching him angrily most of the time. 

This continued during the greater part of 
the forenoon, with frequent tilts between him- 
self and Bert Hedges. Rodney ^s shoulders were 
aching, his head was swimming and his cloth- 
ing was wet with perspiration. He was work- 
ing as he never had worked before, and with 
a difference. Rodney was working with his head 
as well as with his muscles. He knew the head 
work was making his labor easier as well as 
more effective. The assistant foreman failed 
to see matters in this light. 

About eleven o’clock, after the most trying 
hours the boys ever had put in, Tom Neville 
came riding leisurely across the field. Dis- 
mounting from his pony, he turned up piles of 
hay with his hands, feeling the quality and the 
dryness of the alfalfa to see if it were fit for 
stacking. He called Hedges over, giving him 
some directions. Then Neville strolled off, leav- 
ing his pony to feed on the garnered alfalfa. 


-/ Range and Grange. 


82 THE RANGE AND GRANGE 


After a time the general foreman mounted 
the pony, riding along by the wagons, watching 
the work of the men. His keen, experienced eyes 
took in every detail of the work. The general 
foreman was a judge of men as well as of work, 
which accounted in a large measure for the 
position he occupied. 

In a short time he was sitting the pony not 
far to the rear of where the young Hustlers were 
pitching. His eyes narrowed inquiringly as he 
noted Rodney Rogers. About this time Hedges 
had turned his attention to the boys again. He 
was berating them soundly, especially Rogers. 

Rodney paid no attention to him. The boy 
kept on pitching hay. The storm passed and 
Hedges walked away, but in a short time he 
was back again, nagging and urging, not only 
the boys, but the other men as well. The latter 
redoubled their efforts ; the boys did not. 

When Hedges turned toward the general fore- 
man after a time, Neville beckoned to him. The 
assistant walked over to where Neville was sit- 
ting his pony. 

‘^How are the new boys doing questioned 
the general foreman in a pleasant voice. 

‘‘No good. I don’t see why we have to take 
on such babies when there is so much work for 
real men to do,” answered the irascible as- 
sistant. 



“What Is It You Want Me to Do?^' 


83 




HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 85 


‘‘ArenT they doing as much as the others 

^^No! Of course they ain’t. You can see that 
for yourself, especially the little one, Rogers. 
He may do to milk cows and do chores about 
the ranch, but he’s no business trying to stand 
up with the real men.” 

^^That is no reason why you should jump on 
him with both feet. One foot is enough, ” smiled 
Neville. 

‘ ^ Bosh ! ’ ’ growled the assistant. 

‘^Bert, I’m going to tell you something that 
will surprise you.” 

‘^Welir’ 

‘^That boy Rogers is doing as much as any 
man in the field.” 

‘‘What?” 

“Yes. I will say further that he is pitching 
more hay than any other man on the job. Ste- 
vens is a good second to him, but not in the same 
class with the other boy.” 

Hedges gazed at his foreman in amazement. 

“Be ye crazy, Tom?” 

“Not at all. I mean what I say. Now watch 
him. He is pitching more slowly than the others, 
it is true, but you will observe that he turns up 
larger forkfuls, he is gathering it up more 
cleanly and doing it all with fewer movements. ’ ’ 

Hedges turned to watch the work of the youngs 
Hustler, in view of what his foreman had said. 


86 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


‘^Yon may be right,’’ he admitted, ‘‘but I 
can’t see it.” 

“Call the boy over here.” 

The assistant did so. 

“How are you getting along, Rogers!” ques- 
tioned Neville kindly. 

Rodney glanced at the assistant, the sug- 
gestion of a smile flickering on his face. 

“According to Mr. Hedges I’m not much of 
a success.” 

Neville laughed aloud, an unusual thing for 
him to do. 

“I was just saying to Bert that you were 
handling more hay than any man on the job.” 

Rogers gave the foreman a quick look. 

“Thank you, sir. I am doing my best.” 

“Did you figure out your system of pitching 
hay, or did it just happen so!” 

“I figured it out, of course. I saw I was not 
going to be able to stand up under the pace I 
was going and that I was scattering the hay. 
Then I devised a method of doing the work with 
less etfort. I began pitching more slowly, turn- 
ing up larger loads. Instead of taking eight or 
ten forkfuls to the pile I took half the number, 
lifting larger loads. It enabled me to place the 
stuff on the wagon to better advantage, too. I 
found I was doing more work with less exertion 
and doing it better. At least that is what I 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 87 


thought. I donT blame Mr. Hedges for thinking 
I was loafing on the job. It probably looked that 
way to him, sir. ’ ’ 

‘ ^ It certainly did, ^ ’ growled the assistant fore- 
man. 

Hedges, call the men over here,’^ directed 
Neville sharply. 

The assistant did so, somewhat reluctantly. 

Drive that wagon over here.’’ 

The men obeyed orders, wondering what it 
was all about. 

^^The old saying is that you can’t teach an 
old dog new tricks, men, but I have learned 
something from this young man this morning. 
I think you can learn something from him to 
your advantage, too. He never worked on a 
farm before coming here, I believe. Is that 
right, Rogers?” 

^^Yes, sir.” 

‘ ‘ In the few hours he has been working here 
he has devised a system of loading hay that 
ought to make a difference of a few tons in a 
day’s work. I want you to watch him and 
adopt his system. Rogers, turn up that pile 
there. Do it the way you have been doing.” 

‘‘Yes, sir.” 

It was a trying position for Rodney. He 
saw that the men were grinning at him. He 
felt instinctively that in doing what he was 


88 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


about to do he would gain the ill will of all of 
them. Naturally, they resented being shown 
by a boy. Eod shut his lips tightly together, 
however, and grasped the fork. 

‘^Any of you fellows from Missouri?’’ de- 
manded Neville. 

The men shook their heads. 

^AVell, you ought to be. You can imagine 
that you are. Watch the boy as he shows you.” 

A forkful so large t^iat it seemed as if it 
must topple over and bury the young farmer 
rose slowly and cleanly from the ground, the 
right hip of the boy taking the strain of the 
load, the fork handle doubling like a bow un- 
der the weight, as half the pile of hay was lifted 
to the wagon with apparently slight effort. It 
is true the blood rushed to the Hustler’s face, 
but the flush passed almost as quickly as it had 
come. 

<< There, men, that’s the way to load hay. 
You will notice that he doesn’t waste any effort, 
that every movement counts. That ’s what does 
the business in a day’s work. Eogers, why do 
you face toward the front? The men face the 
other way.” 

‘ ‘ That saves me the trouble of turning around 
for the next pile,” answered Eodney promptly. 

‘^They’d call that laziness in my time,” said 
the assistant sharply. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 89 


‘Hn mine, too,’' answered Neville. Times 
have changed, however. Folks are learning to 
do things differently. They are obliged to do 
so or they never would get through with the 
amount of work that has to be done these days. 
Labor-saving is the hope of the country — that 
and improved methods of farming. Have you 
anything else to suggest, Rogers?” 

^^Yes, sir.” 

‘^Now is your time, what is it?” 

would suggest that the wagon go along 
on the lower side of the rows instead of be- 
tween them, letting the men pitch from the up- 
hill side.” 

^^H-m-m! Why?” 

‘Ht will make pitching easier and the work 
will go on faster. I think the wagon can move 
along without stopping at all if the men keep 
their proper distance from each other.” 

^‘That is a good scheme. You mean to pitch 
from one side only?” 

^Wes, sir.” 

Neville nodded to his foreman. 

^‘Do that, Bert.” 

Hedges gave the directions to his men. They 
began trying the new method at once. Most 
of them within a few moments realized that 
the boy had done them a favor, but they were 
too surly to admit it. They found themselves 


90 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


doing more work with less effort than ever be- 
fore. The eyes of the general foreman twinkled. 
He rnhhed his palms together gleefully. 

‘‘Now will you give in, Bert?’’ he chuckled. 

“I’m dead heat,” answered the assistant, 
with reluctance. 

“I thought so. Eogers!’^ 

“Yes, sir?” 

“I want you to make the round of the field 
with me. We will teach the other crews how 
to load hay, eh?” 

“Yes, sir.” Eod nodded inquiringly in the 
direction of Stevens. 

“No; leave him here. We don’t want to 
break up the crew.” 

Eogers turned away, following after the gen- 
eral foreman as the latter rode off to another 
part of the field. They went from one crew to 
another, Eodney explaining his system to each, 
his advice being received with many sour looks 
and some smiles. Finally, the whole field had 
been instructed in the new method of loading 
hay. Eodney ’s eyes sparkled, but he bore his 
triumph modestly. He was to much of a man 
to allow himself to be over elated by his success. 

The result of his suggestions was apparent 
when the assistant foreman made his report to 
Tom Neville that night. 

“Well, how about it?” was Neville’s smiling 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 91 


question when the men came in from the fields 
after finishing the day^s work. 

^ ^ Pretty good, ^ ’ answered Hedges. 

Break any records T’ 

The assistant nodded. 

‘‘How muchP’ 

“Roughly estimating, weVe put in something 
like ten tons more to-day than we usually do, 
and we haven T worked a full day under the 
new system at that.’’ 

Tom Neville laughed again, slapping Hedges 
on the hack good-naturedly. 

“I guess our new boys are all right, after 
all, Bert, eh?” he demanded. 


92 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


CHAPTER IX 


FUN IN’ THE BUNK HOUSE 

HE men nicknamed Rodney Shoddy/’ 



perhaps because there was nothing 


shoddy about him. He was real and he 
was up and doing all the time. When Rodney 
was not working, he was usually busy gaining 
useful information, asking questions and plan- 
ning various ways of doing things that he 
thought would be an improvement over old 
methods. 

Young Rogers did not make a nuisance of 
himself by offering suggestions. He tried them 
out for himself so far as they related to his own 
work, and if satisfactory he adopted them. The 
brain of the Hustler was fully as active as was 
his body. This latter was sore and lame, for 
he was not used to hard labor. Being young, 
naturally strong and careful in his habits, he 
stood up under the hard grilling, growing 
stronger, it seemed, every minute, of the time. 
The rare mountain air, too, was invigorating. 
It seemed to Rodney that there was no physical 
task that he could not accomplish. 

Something of his buoyant spirit seemed to 
communicate itself to his companion. Glen 


HUSTLEES ON THE RANCH 93 


Stevens became full of life and fun. The harder 
he worked the more cheerful he grew, and this 
spirit of cheerfulness kept him in fine condi- 
tion for his daily duties. These were now 
wholly confined to the farm. The boys no 
longer were called upon to milk the cows. 
Their services in the field were considered too 
valuable to lose. This suited the Hustlers, as 
it was in the field that they wished to work. 

Since the first night on the ranch, when Glen 
had slept in the bunk house and Eodney out 
on the ground, they had been sleeping on a 
blanket in the kitchen of the ranch house. Sev- 
eral days later they were assigned bunks in the 
bunk house with the other men, for the first 
time. This suited them very well, indeed. 
There was more to learn there than by them- 
selves, for crude as were the methods of some 
of the men, they knew the life on the ranch. 
Some had been cowboys in their day, others 
sheep tenders and still others had owned farms. 

The first night the Hustlers entered the bunk 
house some time after supper, the men began 
to relate stories for the benefit of the boys, 
stories that both lads soon concluded were too 
exaggerated to be true. But neither boy ex- 
pressed his doubts of the truthfulness of the 
narratives. They appeared to credit them all. 
Now and then some sarcastic remark would be 


94 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


hurled at them, but the men found that Eodney 
was quick with a retort, usually turning the 
laugh on the one who had sought to humiliate 
him. Some of the men had not yet forgiven 
Eod for teaching them how to pitch alfalfa. 

‘^Say, Shoddy, did you ever hear about the 
big snow storm we had up in these parts some 
ten years ago?’’ questioned an ex-cowboy who 
was known simply as Moe. 

‘‘No, I don’t think I ever did.” 

.“What about it?” asked Glen. 

“It snowed, that’s all,” jeered Moe. 

“It usually does when it snows, I have no- 
ticed,” answered Glen, without the suspicion 
of a smile. “Well, it snowed; what else?” 

“If you want to hear the story, keep still 
while I tell it. You talk too much.” 

“It strikes me some other people are doing 
a good deal of talking,” suggested Stevens. 

Moe flushed, then glancing at a companion 
sitting on the edge of a bunk he winked know- 
ingly. Eod saw the wink, but did not under- 
stand the meaning of it. 

“Yes, we should like to hear about the 
storm,” nodded Eodney. “Was it a big 
storm?” teased the lad. 

'“See here, you’ve got too much to say, too. 
You jest keep shut, or somebody’ll get what’s 
coming to him.” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 95 


Rodney nodded, smiling broadly. 

‘Ht was some five years ago and— — 

‘‘I thought you said it was ten,^’ interrupted 
Glen. Which was it, five or ten?’^ 

Moe glowered at the boy. 

‘ ^ See here, child, whose telling this story, you 
or me?^’ 

haven’t heard any one tell it yet. I am 
waiting,” answered Stevens. 

‘‘It was some five years ago, more or less,” 
continued Moe. “We’d had an open fall, 
though the leaves had dropped off everything 
but the spruce. There had been frosts, you see. 
The sheep was still up near the timber line get- 
ting fat as butter — ^not the kind you churned 
the other day,” he added, with a quick look 
at Rodney, who flushed, for that churning was 
a tender spot with him. The men had never 
ceased teasing him about it. 

“Yes, fat as butter,” nodded Rodney, “the 
kind you like to eat, but don’t churn if you 
can get out of it.” 

Moe growled, swallowed hard and kicked a 
convenient boot across the bunk house. 

“Say, that’s my boot you are kicking, if you 
please,” objected Glen. 

“Don’t make no difference whose boot it is. 
It’s a boot, that’s all, and boots was made to 
kick or kick with. As I was saying when some- 


96 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


body butted in, the grass was still green on 
the mountain tops and the sheep hadn’t taken 
to feeding on the salt bush or the sage. Tliey 
was filling up on the real thing and the shep- 
herds was having a general all around loaf of 
it, for there was nothing to do but sleep and 
cook grub at meal time. 

‘^Well, sir, one morning the ground was cov- 
ered with snow. What do you think of that?” 
fixing Stevens with a stern eye. 

‘ ‘ W onderf ul, ’ ’ breathed Glen. ‘ ‘ Covered with 
white snow? Go on.” 

‘^But it didn’t bother the sheep. They ate 
the snow and the grass with it, just the same 
as if there hadn’t been any snow, and the shep- 
herds, they swept the snow up and pitched 
their tents on the green grass, getting ready 
for what they know’d would be coming along 
pretty soon.” 

^^You mean more snow?” asked Eodney. 

‘‘Yes, the beautiful Will you keep 

shut?” 

“Go on, we are listening,” urged Glen. 

‘ ‘ One night about a few days later, the sheep 
was bedded down, the chambermaid of the 
range having made all snug and secure in the 
stables ” 

“Stables? They were out on the mountain- 
top, you said a minute ago,” interrupted Glen. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 97 


‘‘All was snug and secure in the stables/^ 
continued Moe, ignoring the interruption. “All 
of a sudden the shepherds on that part of the 
range heard something pattering on the roofs 
of their tents. Naturally they went outside to 
see what was in the wind. Understands^ 

The hoys nodded. 

“What do you think it wasS^ asked Moe. 

“RainS^ 

“Nope.^^ 

“Leaves from the trees,’’ suggested Stevens. 

“I guess it must have been snow, then,” 
laughed Rodney. 

“Right. Go to the head of the class. It came 
down just like this!” 

At this juncture someone emptied a sack of 
flour over Rodney’s head. The flour filled his 
hair, his mouth, eyes and nose, sif1»d down in- 
side his open-neck shirt, in fact it covered him 
from head to foot. Rodney drew in his breath 
sharply, swallowing a lot of the fine powder. 
This sent him into a violent fit of coughing. 
He coughed, rubbed his eyes, tried to blow out 
the flour which by this time had stuck his eye- 
lids together and filled his mouth with dough. 

The bunk house fairly shook with the roars 
of the men. Rodney was the funniest spectacle 
they had gazed upon for many a long day. Even 
Glen Stevens was convulsed with laughter, 


7 / Range and Grange. 


98 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


thougli his first inclination had been to resent 
the insult to his companion. 

^^Take him over to Mrs. Hedges and let her 
wallop him into biscuits for breakfast/^ sug- 
gested a voice. 

‘^No, heM be too underdone, even if you 
cooked him all day,^^ answered Moe. ‘^That 
kind has to be baked -a week before they Ve any- 
thing but dough. 

Rod was blinking rapidly. He could see now, 
and though the water was running from his 
eyes, he began to laugh, as he wiped the white 
stuff from face and clothes. Moe was regard- 
ing him narrowly. He expected to see the lad 
fly into a violent temper. Rodney did nothing 
of the kind. It was a good joke, even if a 
rough one, and he was willing to take his medi- 
cine like a man. 

^‘What do you think of the great snowstorm. 
Shoddy?’^ demanded one. 

— I have seen worse, stammered the boy. 
‘‘But I didn’t know you could keep snow for 
five years. Did you freeze it by looking at it, 
Moe?” 

“Now don’t git funny,” growled the man. 
“I’ll tell you another, about the great rain- 
storm we had in eighteen ” 

“Will one of you gentlemen kindly loan me 
a rubber coat and an umbrella?” asked Rod- 


HUSTLEES ON THE EANCH 99 


ney soberly. want to bear about tbe great 
rainstorm. I ’ ^ 

A roar of langbter cnt short what he was 
about to say. The rainstorm did not occur ac- 
cording to forecast at that time, but it came 
in earnest some time later. When it did come, 
the laugh was not on the Eange and Grange 
Hustlers. On the contrary, it proved to be 
their turn to laugh. 


100 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


CHAPTER X 

GOOD NEWS FOR THE HUSTLERS 

T he good nature with which he had taken 
his initiation into the bunk house so- 
ciety made a favorable impression on 
nearly all of the men, though some still held a 
grudge against Rogers for what they called his 
freshness’^ that day in the alfalfa field. 

Soon after the prank had been played all 
hands turned in, for they must be up early in 
the morning ready for another grilling day on 
the ranch. The young Hustlers occupied lower 
berths, the bunks being arranged around the 
sides of the room something after the manner 
of those in a sleeping car. There was a lower 
berth and an upper. There were loud snores 
from all parts of the room within ten minutes 
after the lights had been put out. The two boys 
were not snoring, but they were sleeping 
soundly. 

Outside, the wind was rising. There had 
been a long, dry period, no rain having fallen 
in that part of the mountain for fully two 
months. The none too tight roof over the bunk 
house had suffered, warping until one could see 
daylight through it in several places, but the 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 101 


hands had not minded this. Indeed, it is doubt- 
ful if they had observed the cracks in the roof 
at all. 

The wind grew into a gale, then died out en- 
tirely. Rain drops pattered on the roof above 
the heads of the sleepers. A drop found its 
way into the face of the sleeping Moe, but he 
snored on in complete oblivion. 

All at once the rain came down in a deluge 
almost as if a reservoir had been emptied over 
the bunk house. A fine mist soon filled the 
room, filtering through the numerous cracks 
and crevices, while sheets of water shot over 
the gables to the ground. Even the troughs 
that had been put up on the roof to catch water 
for kitchen use were overflowing, though they 
were large and broad. Moe was lying directly 
under one of these troughs. 

Suddenly with a loud report a board gave 
way under the strain of the trough. 

Moe uttered a yell, a choking howl of fright. 
He had gotten the full force of the stream of 
water right in his face. The water kept on 
coming in, for the broken ends of the eave 
trough sloped right into his bunk. He floun- 
dered about too dazed to really understand 
what was occurring. 

^ ^ Help, help ; I ^m drowning ! ’ ’ he yelled. 

Others attracted by the noise had leaped from 


102 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


their bunks. Some tried to strike matches, but 
the dampness put out the flame instantly. The 
bunk room was a scene of confusion and riot, 
men falling over each other, shouting out advice 
and commands. Two of the occupants of the 
bunk room did not get up, however. The two 
were Rodney Rogers and Glen Stevens. They 
insinctively realized what had occurred. They 
were diy and snug in their bunks, so they de- 
cided to stay there for the present. After con- 
siderable search, a lantern was found, and, drag- 
ging it into a lower bunk, one of the men suc- 
ceeded in lighting it. 

When the lantern had lighted up the gloom 
somewhat Moe was discovered standing in the 
middle of the floor clad in his worldng clothes, 
boots and all. He had gone to bed with his 
clothes on. 

Rodney laughed aloud as he looked at the wet, 
bedraggled figure of the rancher. 

^Hf people expect to have dry clothes to put 
on they shouldn’t sleep in them,” advised Glen 
wisely. ^ ^ People don ’t go to bed with their boots 
on in polite society.” 

‘ AVill you cut that?” demanded Moe savagely. 

‘‘By the way,” piped Rodney Rogers, “this 
reminds me of the great flood of eighteen-twenty, 
when a fellow called Moe tipped over a wash 
boiler from the stove in his mother’s kitchen, 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 103 


scalding nearly all the skin off his body. It 
scared him so that he didnT have the courage 
to take another bath until 

With a bound Moe reached the bunk in which 
Rodney was lying. The next second Rod landed 
in the middle of the bunk room, with Moe thrash- 
ing him about as if the lad were a bag of meah 

Glen clambered out to go to his chum’s as- 
sistance, when Rodney proved that he was amply 
able to take care of himself. Watching his 
opportunity. Rod threw both arms about the 
legs of the irate ranch hand, and gave a mighty 
tug. 

Moe hit the floor with a crash. Ere the farm 
hand could get up. Rod was sitting on his chesty 
laughing until his body shook. The rancher, 
being large and powerful, hurled the boy to one 
side, then staggering to his feet, started for 
Rod. This time Moe meant business. 

At this juncture Glen gave the lantern a kick^ 
sending it clear across the room. Fortunately 
the lantern went out as it crashed in pieces. 

‘^Duck!” shouted Glen. 

Rod understood. He did duck. He slipped 
out of the door into the rain, while Moe was 
groping about among his companions in the 
bunk house in a vain endeavor to find the author 
of his downfall. 

Glen joined his companion outside, and with 


104 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


their clothes bundled under their arms, Glen 
having gathered np the belongings of both — 
except the shoes, which he could not find^ — they 
made a rnn for the kitchen of the ranch house. 
There they dried themselves by the kitchen stove, 
which was still warm ; then, having put on their 
shirts and trousers, they laid down on the floor 
to finish their sleep. 

The rest of the night was spent in peace and 
quiet, so far as those in the kitchen were con- 
cerned. Out in the bunk house some of the men, 
after disentangling themselves, went back to 
their bunks. They did not sleep, however. The 
upper bunks were soaked and by this time the 
water was trickling down into the lower berths, 
driving out the occupants. Some of the men 
went out to the stables to sleep, but the majority 
remained in the bunk house, where they walked 
about, growling and complaining for the rest 
of the night. 

On the following morning there were sour 
looks cast at the Range and Grange Hustlers. 
The men seemed to consider the two boys re- 
sponsible for the trouble of the previous night. 
Moe threatened to be even with young Rogers at 
the first opportunity. 

‘‘Never mind, you had a bath, at any rate,’^ 
soothed Rod. 

After breakfast, as the lads were preparing 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 105 


to go out to the field to open up the piles of 
alfalfa that the sun might dry out the hay, the 
assistant foreman told Rod to remain at the 
ranch. 

Rod sat around until nine o^clock, when 
Hedges told him he was to ride into town to 
take the month’s report to Captain Woods. 

‘‘You’d better hurry back as fast as you can, 
too, for I shall expect you to get busy in the 
field this afternoon. If the hay dries out we 
want to get a good bunch of it in the stack be- 
fore night. The rain isn’t over yet. We’U 
probably get another downpour to-night some 
time, so hustle ! ’ ’ 

“How do I go in, did you say?” questioned 
Rod. 

“Ride, of course. I’d let you walk it, but I’m 
in a hurry. Take the white-faced pony.” 

“Yes, sir.” 

Rogers was delighted at the opportunity. He 
wished he had had time to write another letter 
to his mother. He had sent the first one to the 
post office by the general foreman, Mr. Neville. 
Though Rod had never been on a horse half a 
dozen times in his life, he was confident that 
he would have no difficulty. The white-faced 
pony was gentle. For that he was duly thank- 
ful. Rad mounted and rode away slowly, with 
Hedges watching him. 


106 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


her up. You wonT get there to-day at 
that gait.’^ 

‘^Yes, sir, when I get out on the trail. Rod 
didn’t care to make an exhibition of himself 
before the foreman. When fairly on his way, he 
started the pony into a gallop, but was forced 
to cling to the mane with both hands to prevent 
his falling off. It seemed to him as though his 
neck were being dislocated, too. 

The lad persisted, however, and after a time 
managed to keep his seat very well, though he 
could not help bobbing up and down with every 
rise and fall of his mount. He wondered how 
the riders he had seen on the trail managed to 
keep their seats so well. All things considered, 
the journey to Shelby was an enjoyable one. 
Rogers remembered the day when he had first 
come over that trail. He was hot, tired and 
hungry then, but now he was in high spirits. 

He reached town before eleven o^clock, and, 
riding up to the general store, tethered his pony 
to the long iron tie rail, where there were three 
other ponies whose riders were somewhere about 
the town. The lad felt quite like a cowboy. 

Captain Woods was in his office when Rod- 
nej/ reached there. The lad said a polite good 
morning, handed in the document he had brought 
and was about to go back to his horse when 
the Captain called to him. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 107 


“Come inside, Rogers; I want to talk with 
yon,^^ said the Captain. 

Rodney, with hat in hand, went around to 
the inner office, where the ranch owner sat be- 
fore a big oak desk. He read the report through 
before speaking to his caller, who stood back 
near the door awaiting orders. 

“Take a seat, my lad,^’ said the Captain, 
glancing up as he tossed the report to the desk. 
“I see there has been some work done out on 
the Home Ranch. 

“Yes, sir.^^ 

“Ne\ulle tells me you are doing pretty well.^’ 

“Yes, sir; I am doing my best, and so is my 
friend. ^ ’ 

“He also tells me that you have taught some 
of our old men a few things that have proved 
of no little value to the ranch.’’ 

Rodney did not reply. In fact, he was rather 
uncomfortable under the quizzical gaze of Cap- 
tain Woods. The lad would have preferred to 
talk about something else. 

“I knew I was not mistaken in my estimate 
of you, Rogers. I hope you will get along all 
right and like your work. If you wish anything 
at any time I hope you will speak up. Let’s see, 
what did I say I would give youT’ 

^ ‘ Twenty-five dollars a month and keep. ’ ’ 

“Yes, yes; that’s right. However, I think I 


108 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


made a little mistake wlien I fixed your wages 
at twenty-five dollars a month/’ 

The Hustler looked his surprise. 

^^A mistake, sir?” 

^^Yes.” 

‘‘Very well, if you think I am not worth that 
money, I donT want it/’ said Rogers promptly. 
“But, on the other hand, I want all I eam.’^^ 

“Well said, my lad. Yes, you are worth it. 
However, as I said before, I should have made 
the figure thirty dollars a month. That is your 
salary. You will draw thirty dollars for your 
first month’s services and the same after that, 
that is, until you come and tell me you think you 
ought to have more. If you and I are of the 
same mind, perhaps you ’ll get it, but mind you, 
you won’t get what you donT eara,” smiled the 
owner of the Silver Bow. 

Rodney ^s face flushed. 

“Thirty dollars? I — I thank you, sir. It is 
very kind of you. Does — does that apply to my 
friend also?” 

“Stevens?” 

“Yes, sir.” 

“Yes. He is a likely lad, though he has not 
shown your spirit. You may tell him that his 
wages are thirty dollars a month also.” 

“I am sure he will he glad, sir. I can’t tell 
you how much I appreciate your kindness.” 


HUSTLEES ON THE EANCH 109 


‘‘Don’t mention it, don’t mention it. We’ll 
talk about something else. How do you get 
along with your foreman!” 

“Very well, sir.” 

“I am glad of that. Some of the men com- 
plain about Hedges, but outside of his queer 
ways he is an excellent man in that kind of work. 
He is too nervous for stock. It takes a steady, 
even-tempered man to be successful with stock, 
especially sheep.” 

“Yes, sir. You said a little while ago that 
if there was anything I wanted I should ask 
for it,” spoke up Eodney, putting on a bold 
front. 

“Well?” 

“I should like to get in the stock end of the 
work as soon as you think I am fit for it. ’ ’ 

“What do you know about stock?” 

“I didn’t know a thing until I tried to milk 
one of your cows on the wrong side. She taught 
me a whole lot. When I picked myself up I 
was wiser than I had been before,” said the lad, 
with a solemn face. 

Captain Woods laughed heartily. 

“And she objected, eh?” 

“Yes, sir.” 

“Did she kick?” 

“Yes, sir.” 

“Were you hurt?” 


110 THE EANGE AND GKANGE 


<qVe got a lump on my shoulder as a re- 
minder that the right side is the proper side to 
approach when you are going to milk a cow.’’ 

Whe Captain laughed long and loud this time. 
A t . ‘f his merriment had subsided he regarded 
ti r ' oy keenly for a few seconds. 

‘ WTiat stock do you want to work with — cat- 
tler’ 

^^No, sir. I rather thought I should like to 
get on the sheep range first. ’ ’ 

^‘Hm-m-m! Let me see.” The owner drew 
a long sheet of paper from a pigeon hole, run- 
ning his eye down the page. Then he said 
^‘hm-m-m” again. 

‘Hvnow anything about sheep T’ 

^^Not a thing, sir.” 

^^Does your friend?” 

think so, sir. You know he was brought 
up on a farm. Besides, he has been to the agri- 
cultural school at Ames.” 

‘‘Just so, just so. I think I can fix you up. 
I, presume you would prefer to be together?” 

“Yes, sir, if it is convenient.” 

“Very well, I think I can fix you up. In fact, 
I see we need a couple of reliable men in the 
commissary department.” 

Eod did not know exactly what good men did 
in the commissary department. He had heard 
of the commissary department of the Army, but 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 111 


what that had to do with sheep was a puzzle to 
him. 

‘‘What we want is two good men to take 
charge of the distribution of supplies to the 
shepherds on the range. ^ ’ 

“Yes, sir.^^ 

“You will have to be out in all sorts of 
weather, winter and summer. You must keep 
the sheep tenders supplied with provisions and 
other things. It is quite important that they 
should never be without anything needful to 
them. Their lives are trying enough at best. 
You two lads of course will not be together all 
the time, but you will be on the same work and 
you will work together, which is quite essential 
in this department. Two men who pull in op- 
posite directions can mix things up dreadfully in 
that department. That has been our trouble.’’ 

“We shall give you no trouble in that re- 
spect, sir, ’ ’ ventured the lad. 

“Then, let’s see — this is Friday!” 

“Yes, sir.” 

“Go back to the ranch, reporting to Hedges. 
Tell him that you are transferred to another 
department. Come in some time Sunday. You 
perhaps will wish to bring your things in, for 
you will live at our boarding house here when 
you are in town, which will not be very much of 
the time, I am thinking.” 


112 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


^‘Yes, sir/^ 

will tell Mr. Neville of the transfer. He 
has taken quite a liking to you and I am sure 
he will approve of the change. In fact, he has 
already suggested that we place you elsewhere. ’ ’ 
am sure I am very much obliged.’^ 

‘‘Come in on Sunday, get yourselves settled 
and be at the oflSce early on Monday morning 
for orders. If I am not here, Mr. Neville will 
give you all the necessary directions. 

Eodney expressed his thanks as best he could. 
The interview being ended, he started to back 
from the office. The Captain shook hands with 
him cordially. 

“Keep on, lad. We want such lads as you 
and we will see that you are taken care of. ’ ^ 

The Hustler left the office with light step. 
The pony made the return trip to the ranch in 
quicker time than when coming to town, nor did 
Eodney realize that he was riding almost as well 
as if he had been at it for months instead of a 
few hours. 

The lad could hardly wait to carry the good 
news to his companion, Glen Stevens. 


HUSTLEES ON THE RANCH 113 


CHAPTER XI 

THE HUSTLEKS AS KANGE EIDERS 

R od did not get an opportunity to tell Glen 
of their good fortune until that night 
after work. Glen naturally was de- 
lighted. He gave Rod full credit for having 
brought this change about, and declared that he 
would he even with his friend if it took a life 
time to do it. 

That night Rogers also told Mr. Hedges that 
they were to he transferred and that his time on 
the ranch would end at the close of work on the 
following day. 

Hedges did not know whether to he glad or 
sorry, but he decided rather reluctantly that the 
boys might deserve something better than or- 
dinary laborers’ jobs. Mrs. Hedges was sin- 
cerely sorry, however. She had no hesitancy 
in voicing her regret. 

On Sunday afternoon the boys once more 
packed their grips and set out over the mountain 
trail on foot. They did not even think of asking 
to be taken over. It was a much happier walk 
than the previous one had been. Late that after- 
noon they entered Shelby, dusty and somewhat 
tired, but in high spirits. Arrangements already 


-I Range and Grange. 


114 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


had been made for them in the company's board- 
ing house at Shelby, where they had a plain but 
pleasant room just across from the railroad sta- 
tion, overlooking the main street of the village. 
One luxury that they appreciated was a bathtub. 
Even though they had to carry up their hot 
water, the tub was a luxury. 

The first thing they did after getting settled 
in their new quarters, which operation consisted 
in dropping their bags in the middle of the floor, 
was to prepare to use the tub. The next thing 
on the programme was a letter to Mrs. Rogers. 

Rodney told her of his good fortune, spending 
his entire evening in writing an account of his 
doings since his last letter to her. It was not 
a night of uninterrupted sleep, however, for the 
trains roaring by at intervals shook the building 
like an earthquake, each time awakening the 
Hustlers from their slumbers. 

‘‘Goodness, I think I prefer the great rain- 
;storm of eighteen-something-or-other, ^ ’ laughed 
Rogers. ‘ ‘ This is fierce ! ^ ’ 

“We won’t mind the cars when we get out on 
the range,” replied Glen. 

“No, that ’s so. Then it will be something else. 
I have a lingering suspicion that range riding 
will be something like real ranching. I believe 
we are going to have a wonderful experience. 
Don’t you think you’ll like it, Glen?” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 115 


tell you better after I have tried it. I 
clonT know whether I shall like it or not, but 
I guess so.’^ 

Rodney decided that it was time to go to sleep 
again, so the boys turned over and were not 
awakened by another train for two hours. It 
was then daylight, so they decided not to return 
to their bed, but to take a walk up the mountain 
that loomed skyward on the other side of the 
railroad. From the mountain they looked down 
at the broad grazing valley to the south of where 
they were located. Rodney was fixing the gen- 
eral lay of the country in his mind for further 
use. He knew he would have to become familiar 
with every crook and turn of the canyons, which 
knowledge was to serve him well later on. 

After a brisk two hours of clambering over 
small divides, running across valleys, climbing 
a tree here and there, the lads, flushed of face 
and with eyes dancing, returned to the board-^ 
ing house with a keen zest for breakfast. They 
had to wait some time after breakfast for the 
opening of the office. When Captain Woods ar- 
rived he found his young employes sitting on the 
steps waiting for him patiently. Tom Neville 
was not far behind. 

Captain Woods asked the general foreman if 
arrangements had been made for the boys. The 
foreman replied in the affirmative. Then, call- 


116 THE RANGE AND GRANGE 


ing the lads into the office, Tom carefully in- 
structed them in their duties. A map was 
handed to each showing the present location of 
all the sheep outfits on the range, and the trails 
leading into that vicinity. Captain Woods ex- 
plained, however, that the flocks are not always 
where they ought to he. Sometimes the flocks 
are miles from the position shown on the map 
and the range rider must find them. 

Ordinarily, said the Captain, ^^you will 
have no difficulty in reaching the cook shack of 
the shepherd, or his tent, as the case may he. 
These men must each he seen at least once a 
month. Now as for the stock, the provision 
house and the half-way stores are at the end of 
the wagon trail up Coyote Canyon. At stated 
intervals you will have to come in to take out 
stores to the station in a wagon. From there 
you will have to pack everything into the moun- 
tains with your ponies.’^ 

‘ ‘ How many will he required ? ^ ’ asked Rodney. 

^‘Oh, not more than one besides your mounrt. 
That^s all you can handle to advantage. You 
will have to divide up the work between you. I 
would suggest that one of you take the territory 
lying to the eastward of Coyote Canyon, the 
other the west. That will he about an even di- 
vision. Anything outside of that you may ar- 
range between you.^’ 


HUSTLEES ON THE EANCH 117 


Don’t forget always to look out for the 
stores. They are worth real money to the com- 
pany,” interjected Neville. 

Yes. We have had considerable trouble with 
men in this department,” nodded Captain 
Woods. ^^They have been known to be short. 
However, we shall not have that difficulty with 
our new young range riders.” 

‘^Not from that cause,” smiled Eogers, to 
which Glen nodded assent. 

‘‘Further details Mr. Neville will give you,” 
continued Captain Woods. “He knows all about 
it and can tell you more in five minutes than I 
could in an hour. Are the ponies and equip- 
ment here, Tom?” 

“Yes, they’re over in the number two stable.” 

“Here is the report of what is needed at the 
various sheep camps, according to the two riders 
we are transferring. You will have to de- 
cide whether to take it all out at one time or 
make two trips with the supplies. I hope you 
will like the work and that you will have good 
luck. I know you will do your work well. Tom, 
take them over to the stables and then to the 
stores.” 

“When do you wish us to start out, sir?” 

“You are on the job now. You should be 
in the saddle to-day.” 

“We are ready,” announced Glen. “Tha 


118 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


sooner we get started the better it will suit 
ns/^ 

They were taken to the stables, where they 
found their four ponies, after which they in- 
spected the company’s store house, where every- 
thing from a needle to a steam engine might be . 
found. Here they picked out their saddles with 
the assistance of the general foreman. Neville, 
from a cupboard filled with all manner of fire- 
arms, selected a pair of heavy revolvers, which 
he laid beside the saddle equipment, as he did 
with a pair of leather belts and revolver 
holsters. 

^^Are those for us!” asked Rodney. 

‘^Yes.” 

^^Why should we carry revolvers?” 

‘‘You may need them on the range at most 
any time. There are wild animals in these moun- 
tains. It is well to be protected. ’ ^ 

Rogers laughed. 

“I couldn’t hit the side of a barn with a re- 
volver — not unless I were inside the barn.” 

“You will have plenty of time to practice. 
There, I think that is all you need for the 
present. You know you can telephone in from 
the half-way station at any time. You will find 
report blanks there. Keep a careful record of 
everything you disburse, even to a single pin.” 

“Yes, sir.” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 119 


^ H ^11 ride out with you, if you are ready. ’ ’ 

The hoys were not only willing, but anxious. 
A few minutes later they were on their ponies, 
each leading his pack pony behind him. Ac- 
companied by Mr. Neville, they galloped out on 
the broad trail to the commissary station. 
Reaching there, the other arrangements were 
quickly made. Glen happened to think of a 
very important matter. 

‘AVhere do we get our meals U’ he asked. 

^^ThaUs so; I had forgotten to tell you about 
that,’’ laughed Neville. ^‘Can you boys cook?” 

They shook their heads. 

^^You will have to learn, for when riding the 
range you will be obliged to take care of your- 
selves. Take a frying pan, a pail, fork, knife, 
a spoon or two and whatever else you think you 
will need, for you will have to cook your own 
meals if you are to have anything to eat.” 

^H’d hate to have to eat a meal you cooked, 
Roddy,” laughed Glen. 

^‘For the sake of my digestive organs I am 
thankful that I do not have to eat a meal of 
your cooking,” retorted Rogers quickly. 

All arrangements having been made with Nev- 
ille, and the needed cooking utensils obtained, 
the lads packed their ponies under his instruc- 
tion, learning to make the diamond hitch and to 
protect their stores so that none should be lost. 


120 the eange and grange 


Glen decided to go to the eastward, Rodney tak- 
ing the western ranges. 

Bidding good-bye to Mr. Neville, they started 
away, each in the direction of his field of oper- 
ation. Just before passing out of sight of each 
other, however, the Range and Grange Hustlers 
turned simultaneously in their saddles to wave 
good-bye, then bravely set their faces to 
the front. Reaching the first divide, Rodney 
stopped his pony, and taking out his map, began 
to study it, after which he took a long look at 
the rugged country before him. 

^^All ranges look alike to me, but I presume 
I shall learn them after a time,’^ he said, de- 
ciding upon the course he would follow. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 121 


CHAPTER XII 

FOLLOWING THE MOUNTAIN TRAILS 

R odney had so arranged his journey as 
to take in three camps without having 
to double on his trail. Through some 
error, however, he missed the first one. Night 
found him hopelessly lost. He had seen neither 
sheep nor shepherds nor any sign that either 
had ever been in that locality before. 

Rodney did not lose his head, however. 

donT know that it makes much difiFerence. 
I haven’t known where I was any of the time, 
at any rate. I think I had better make camp. 
In the morning I shall try to locate myself.” 

Ponies were staked down, the packs removed, 
then the range rider pitched his little dog tent, 
built a fire and began the preparation of his 
supper. A can of bacon with some biscuit and 
coffee made up the meal. Even though the 
bacon was cooked so hard that he could hardly 
bite into it and the coffee tasted unlike any 
coffee he had ever drunk, Rodney Rogers en- 
joyed his solitary meal very much. Nor had 
he ever been happier. He was in the very heart 
of Nature, he himself a part of the very scheme 
of Nature itself. 


122 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


The moon was rising over the mountains to 
the eastward by the time he had finished the 
meal, and off to the westward the Great Con- 
tinental Divide stretched as far as the eye could 
see, a hazy streak on the horizon. 

The Hustler sat down to the full enjoyment 
of the glorious evening, his back to the fire, in 
order that the beauties of the night might not 
be dimmed by the flickering flames. 

The young range rider barely moved for the 
next hour and a half, so enraptured was he with 
the scene. No thought of loneliness entered his 
mind. The lover of the wild could not be lonely 
with such a scene environing him. 

With a sigh the lad finally got up, stretching 
himself. 

‘AVell,’^ he said, can’t sit here dreaming 
all night. I must go to sleep or I’ll never find 
that flock I am looking for. I wish Glen were 
here. I wonder how he is getting along?” 

Rod walked over to where he had staked down 
his ponies.- He found them browsing contentedly 
and after taking a look at his packs he threw 
some fresh sticks on the fire, put on a woolen 
suit, and, rolling up in his blanket, went to sleep 
as contentedly as if he were in his own bed in 
his mother’s home. 

He had been asleep about an hour, when sud- 
denly he sprang to his feet with a sense that 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 123 


something was wrong. Rod hastily put on his 
shoes and stepped outside. The moon was now 
high in the heavens, the ponies were still brows- 
ing. Everything seemed to be all right. 

wonder what awakened meV ^ muttered the 
lad. ^Ht can’t be that there is anyone about.” 

To make sure, he prowled among the trees 
and was returning to camp when a long, wailing 
sound caused him to listen intently. 

Gracious, what’s that?” 

He never had heard anything like it. A mo- 
ment later and the wail was repeated. Then 
there came another and still another until he 
seemed to he surrounded by the wails. 

A succession of shivers ran up and down the 
back of the range rider. Then Rodney shook 
himself, laughing lightly. 

am a tenderfoot, indeed. Yes, Rod Rogers, 
you are the rankest kind of tenderfoot. Those 
are coyotes. I ought to have known it. I wonder 
if they think they are going to get a meal in 
this camp. If they do think so they will find 
themselves mistaken.” 

Rod dragged his stores over to the tent, 
don’t know whether or not coyotes are 
fond of canned goods, but I am not going to take 
any chances, ’ ’ he said, placing the packs against 
the tent. 

Next the lad looked to his weapon, which he 


124 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


carefully loaded and placed on the ground be- 
side his bed. Rod had not yet learned the trick 
of making a bed of pine boughs, hut all this 
would come to him in time. 

He tried to doze otf after turning in, but with- 
out much success. Those wails continued. 
Worse than all, the sounds seemed to be draw- 
ing nearer all the time. 

^ H ’ll bet they are closing in on me, ’ ’ decided 
the lad. 

He was right. There were a number of the 
beasts. Had there been one or two the cowardly 
coyotes never would have dared to approach 
so close to the camp. 

Finally Rodney grew tired of their howls. He 
ran out of the tent, uttering a series of whoops 
that sent the coyotes scurrying away. 

Brave lot of beasts,’^ he smiled, turning in 
again. He had barely fallen asleep, however, 
when the wails returned. He sat up, scratch- 
ing his head reflectively. 

wonder what I can do to drive them off. 
They’re worse than a mince-pie nightmare.” 

The camp fire had died out, so that the moon 
lighted up the scene brightly. Rod was able 
to see quite a distance from the tent. He peered 
out, examining the landscape keenly. All at 
once he saw something moving in the shadows 
some distance from where he was sitting. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 125 


<< There’s one of them now. Yes, and there’s 
another. ’ ’ 

Rodney was not afraid, bnt he had an nncom- 
fortable feeling inside that it would have been 
difficult to describe. His hand instinctively 
closed over the butt of his revolver. 

wish I could shoot. I’d like to teach those 
fellows a lesson. I never could come within a 
row of apples trees of them. I don’t believe I 
could hit one if he were right here in the tent. ’ ’ 

The lad watched the skulking figures for some 
moments. They were getting nearer all the 
time, skulking from bush to bush, now hiding 
behind the bushy greasewood, now leaping be- 
hind the boulders. 

^ ‘ Regular scouts, ’ ’ grinned the boy. ‘ ‘ Maybe 
they belong to the scouts. I’m going to try a 
shot. They are getting altogether too close to 
suit me. I don’t want company badly enough 
to entertain a band of coyotes.” 

Rodney raised his revolver, leveling it at a 
figure that stood outlined in the moonlight. 

The figure melted away into the shadows like 
,a dissolving stereopticon view. 

'^Well, doesn’t that beat all!” muttered the 
lad, then he laughed softly. wonder how 
he knew? He must have keen eyes to have seen 
me back here in the tent. Perhaps he didn’t see 
me, after all. Ah, there he is 1 ” 


126 THE HANGE AND GEANGE 


Instead of one figure there were half a dozen 
now. Eodney opened his eyes very wide. He 
could see them quite plainly. 

The howls had ceased. A pony out under the 
trees to the rear of the tent stamped uneasily. 
A night bird croaked hoarsely somewhere over- 
head. 

Bang ! 

Bang, hang, bang ! 

Eodney had fired four shots in quick succes- 
sion. There was instant confusion among the 
skulking figures, followed by a series of howls 
pitched in a new key. They were howls of both 
pain and fear. 

Bang, bang! 

Eogers had emptied his revolver. From the 
rocks below him there arose a chorus of fright- 
ful howls. The cowardly coyotes went hounding 
from the danger zone, scattering as they ran. 

Whoop!’’ howled the Hustler, leaping out 
into the open. ‘H hit ^em, I hit ’em! I winged 
one of them and I guess some more. Hurrah! 
Skip ! Get out of here, you miserable cowards ! ’ ’ 

The lad turned on his heel, and, entering the 
tent, reloaded his weapon. After a few minutes 
of waiting and listening he turned in, drawing 
his blankets closely about him, for the night air 
of the mountains was sharp and penetrating. 


HUSTLEES ON THE RANCH 127 


CHAPTER Xm 

ON THE GEAZING GEOUNDS 

T here was no further trouble that night. 
The howls of the night marauders grew 
fainter and fainter, finally dying out 
altogether. Rodney, not seriously disturbed by 
the excitement through which he had passed, 
soon dropped asleep, sleeping soundly until 
dawn. He awakened before the sun was up. 

The first work of the morning was to lead the 
ponies to a small mountain stream for their 
morning drink, after which Rogers staked them 
down where there was fresh pasturage. This 
done, he made his toilet and returned to the tent. 

^‘Well, Mr. Rodney Rogers, what will you 
have for breakfast T’ he asked himself. ‘‘Let^s 
see, what did I have for supper? Bacon and 
coffee, eh?^^ Well, that will do. I think 1^11 
have the same this morning, for the very good 
reason that I do not know how to cook any- 
thing else, ’ ^ added the lad, with a hearty laugh. 

‘‘My early education was neglected. I should 
have gone to cooking school. I must learn to 
make pies. A pie would taste good up here. I 
must find out to what kind of pies these moun- 
tains lend themselves. I guess sage pie would 


128 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


be about the limit, and from the taste I have had 
of sage, I think I don’t want any more of it.’^ 
Rodney had fallen into the habit of talking 
to himself, a habit that all mountaineers have. 
A dog, he thought, would be a great deal of com- 
pany for him. His employer, however, did not 
furnish dogs for the range riders, so Rogers de- 
cided that he would have to get along without 
one for the present. 

After having cleared away the cooking 
utensils, washing them in the mountain stream, 
the lad got out his map, giving it careful study 
for a time. Then he began examining the ranges 
that lay tier upon tier as far as he could see. 

All at once Rodney uttered an exclamation. 
He had seen something move far off to the 
northwest of him. That something looked white 
against the green of the mountains. 

believe that white patch to be sheep, he 
decided. ‘^Yes, they are sheep. Hurrah! I 
am not so far out of my way after all. I must 
have branched too far to the right. Now I re- 
member I did take a right-hand trail about an 
hour before making camp.^’ 

The young range rider hastened to strike 
camp. This being the first time he had ever 
done so, he was rather slow, but he managed 
to make a package of the tent and utensils that 
would fit behind his saddle. The next thing was 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 129 


to load the pack animal. Rod had considerable 
difficulty with the diamond hitch. It did not 
work out as well as when he had made it under 
the eyes of Tom Neville. It was a clumsy hitch 
when completed, but it held, which really was 
all that was necessary. 

Rod, instead of going toward the place where 
he had seen the sheep, prudently decided to take 
the back track and pick up the right trail. This 
he did, and about two hours later he espied the 
tent of the shepherd. Rod staked down his pack 
pony near the tent, then rode out over the range 
looking for Hutch Harley, the shepherd in 
charge of the flock. 

He found Harley to be a man well past middle 
age, a giant in stature, one of those strange, 
taciturn men to be found on ranges, most of 
whose lives have been spent far from civilization 
and human companionship. Harley had been a 
shepherd for forty years, having only sheep, a 
dog and a horse for companions during most 
of that time. 

The shepherd greeted Rodney Rogers with a 
scowl, answering the lad ’s cheery good morning 
with a grunt. 

^^Who are you?^^ he demanded after an inter- 
al. 

am the supply wagon/’ laughed Rod. 
' What shall I leave you to-day U’ 


-J Range and Grange. 


130 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


‘‘Huh! Tenderfoot, ehT^ 

“Yes, I think that describes me. What do you 

wantr^ 

Harley fell to muttering to himself, then turn- 
ing looked off over the range where the sheep 
were grazing. He discovered a flock far away 
to the southward. Placing two fingers between 
his lips, he uttered three shrill whistles. Rod 
was amazed to see the stray ones turn instantly 
and gallop back to their fellows. 

“I never knew sheep could be taught to obey 
orders like that,’’ marveled the boy. 

“You’re a tenderfoot, that’s why,” grunted 
Harley. 

In the meantime the shepherd’s dog had come 
in from a scouting expedition. He espied 
Rogers and lost no time in cultivating an ac- 
quaintance with the boy. 

“Well, sir, what do you want to-day!” urged 
Rod. 

“ Where ’d you camp last night!” asked the 
shepherd, ignoring the question. 

Rod pointed to the place as nearly as he could 
locate it. i 

“That you shooting!” 

“Yes.” 

“Huh! Coyotes!” 

“Yes, sir.” 

‘ ‘ Huh ! Chance shot. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 131 


Perhaps it was, but how do you knowP^ 

‘ ^ You shot with a revolver. Couldn ’t get close 
enough to make a sure shot. I finished him this 
mornin’ with the rifle.’’ 

‘‘You got the coyote, sir?” 

“I got one.” 

‘ “You haven’t told me what you want yet, 
sir.” 

“Go find out, I don’t know.” 

“Very good, I will do the best I can. This 
is my first trip on the range. If I do not leave 
you enough it will be your own fault. I sup- 
pose you have had your breakfast.” 

“No, I hain’t. Breakfast ten o’clock.” 

“Ten o’clock. Isn’t that rather late?” ques- 
tioned Rod. 

“Sheep graze from daylight till ten, then lay 
down till afternoon. If you wasn’t a fool you’d 
know it.” 

“Thank you. Knowing it now, I am not a 
fool,” answered the boy, with a laugh. “I will 
go back to your camp and see what I can do for 
you. Good-bye if I don’t see you again this 
trip, Mr. Harley.” 

The shepherd did not reply, so Rod returned 
to the camp, where he took an inventory of the 
stores in the shepherd’s tent. The place was not 
clean. Rod elevated his nose a little as he ex- 
amined the camp. He decided to put the tent 


132 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


in ship shape, and set to work at once to do so, 
though this was not a part of his duty. 

^‘One might as well live in a pig pen as in a 
place like this,’^ declared the boy, casting out 
some rubbish. Having done the best he could 
with the interior, he washed the dishes, scrubbing 
them until they should have shone, but they were 
too encrusted with grease ever to show a pol- 
ished surface again. 

This done, Eodney compared the list of sup- 
plies left by the rider on the last trip, with what 
was left of the stores. From this he obtained 
a fair idea as to how much the shepherd required 
for a given time. It was the only way the boy 
knew how to get at the shepherd ’s requirements. 

By the time he had finished this and renewed 
the stock in the tent it was nearly ten o ’clock. 

The Hustler in the kindness of his heart 
thought it might not be a bad idea to get break- 
fast for Harley. Besides, it would be good prac- 
tice. He set about carrying out his idea at once. 
Finding some boiled potatoes of doubtful age, 
he sliced and fried them over a stove in the tent, 
fried some bacon and made coifee, then adding 
three hard-boiled eggs, he decided that to be 
sufficient breakfast for Harley. 

The latter came galloping in on his pony with 
a rifle stuck in the saddle boot, just about the 
time Eod was ready to take up the breakfast. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 133 


have cooked your breakfast for you,’^ 
smiled the lad. am not much of a cook, but 
I hope you won’t find it so bad.” 

Harley sat down without replying. He went 
through that breakfast like a projectile. 

^ ‘ More bacon ! ” he growled. 

Rod fried some more. 

Where’s them potatoes?” 

There are no more cooked. I don’t think 
you will care to wait until we boil some more. ’ ’ 

^‘Biscuits !’^ 

don’t find any. I have some of my own 
. that you may have if you wish. ’ ’ 

The shepherd did wish them, so Rogers 
brought half a dozen from his own slender 
supply. 

^ ‘ More ! ’ ^ demanded Harley, as the half dozen 
disappeared as if by magic. 

Another half dozen were forthcoming, then 
another, until two dozen had all gone the same 
way. These the shepherd ate, smeared with 
some wild honey that he had gathered, the sight 
of which made the lad’s mouth water, but none 
was offered to him. 

Harley finally pushed back from the table and 
lighted his pipe, after which he relapsed into a 
brown study. The sheep dog stood up on his 
hind legs and licked the dishes clean, then barked 
for more. 


134 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


^‘What do you feed the dogT^ asked Rogers. 

^ ^ He licks the plates . ' ^ 

^ ‘ So I see. Is that all he gets ? ^ ^ 

‘^You kin feed him out of your stores. 

‘^No, sir, not I. I believe you are supposed 
to feed yourself and your household out of what 
the company gives you. If you want me to feed 
the dog out of my stores, I will charge it up 
against your outfit. Shall I do that?” 

Harley gave the hoy an angry look. It seemed 
to Rod that the fire blazed suddenly into the eyes 
of the shepherd; then the flame died out as 
quickly as it had come. Rodney watched the 
man out of the comers of his eyes. 

‘^He’s a queer one,” muttered the lad. 

‘AVhaDs that?” demanded the shepherd. 

‘ ‘ I was talking to myself, ’ ’ answered the boy, 
flushing guiltily. 

Crazy, eh?” 

should be if I had to stay in this outfit much 
longer. Well, I think 1^11 he getting along. 
I ” 

^‘Tell Neville I^m going to shift to-morrow.” 

Where will you be when I come again?” 

‘ ^ Where you find me. ^ ^ 

‘Ht wouldn’t be quite so funny were I to miss 
you, now would it, sir?” questioned Rodney, 
with a touch of malice in his tone. 

A growl was the only answer. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 135 


^‘Well, good-bye, Mr. Harley. I will see you 
in a week — that is if I can find you, ’ ’ added Rod, 
extending a hand which the shepherd ignored, 
at least hope you enjoyed my breakfast.’^ 
‘‘Ehr^ 

‘‘How did you enjoy the breakfast U’ in a 
slightly louder voice. 

“Rotten!^’ was the terse but comprehensive 
reply. 

Rod Rogers turned away laughing. 


136 THE RANGE AND GRANGE 


CHAPTER XIV 

AN EXCITING NIGHT 

T he range rider found the other shepherds 
very much the same. They were men 
of few words, some more pleasant than 
others, but not one of them would permit him- 
self to be drawn into anything like general con- 
versation. Rod did not like this feature. 
Though he was happy in his new life, at times 
he longed for a little companionship. Once since 
he had been out he had met his companion at 
the distributing station and the lads had sat 
up nearly all night exchanging experiences. 

By this time both were fairly familiar with 
the mountain trails, but each day brought them 
new experiences, new problems to solve, fresh 
hardships to overcome, and to the credit of the 
Hustlers, it may be said that they met each new 
situation squarely, never shrinking, undergoing 
hardships with‘ smiling countenances, overcom- 
ing obstacles with steady determination. Their 
reports, too, pleased the man sitting at his desk 
down in Shelby. The reports told him what 
neither lad was aware of, that the shepherds on 
the range were being fed and cared for at a 
considerably less expense than before. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 137 


This meant either carelessness or dishonesty 
or both on the part of those who had previously 
done the distribution work. 

Captain Woods, the ranch owner, had 
his own ideas as to this, and he smiled com- 
placently when he heard reports of the work the 
two young men were doing. Neither had been 
to town since he began his work on the range, 
nor did the lads care particularly to go, for the 
only thing of interest to either of them in town 
was the post-office. Their letters were brought 
to and sent from the distributing depot at the 
end of the wagon trail where the lads reported 
every few days. 

It was a long distance between ranches, some 
of the more remote ones being thirty or forty 
miles from their base of supplies. This meant 
long, hard rides. Being almost continually in 
the saddle, the young range riders were at first 
very lame and sore. As they became accus- 
tomed to their work, however, they grew brown, 
weather-beaten and well seasoned. 

Thus far the weather had been fine. Rod 
started out from the distributing depot one 
morning for what was known as the ‘‘Goat 
Mountain Ranch, the most remote ranch or 
outfit owned by Captain Woods. From there, 
the lad expected to make a wide detour, pick- 
ing up at least two other outfits on the way 


138 THE KANGE AND GRANGE 


back, which would exhaust his stores. Glen 
did not have such long journeys to make. The 
outfits visited by him were much closer to- 
gether, though there were more of them. 

Rogers made camp just before dark on a 
bench on the eastern slope of Bald Mountain, 
one of the highest peaks in that part of the 
range. Above the bench towered the dark blue 
peak, the bench forming a rim around the 
mountain which terminated in a wide, valley- 
like pass far below. 

The mountain above and below, while steep, 
could be climbed by a man and pony, provided 
they were used to this sort of thing. For the 
novice it was rather perilous. Rod took the 
bench going directly up the mountain side, lead- 
ing his pack horse behind him, his sure-footed 
mount never making a misstep. 

It was a sightly spot that Rogers had chosen 
for his camping place. Furthermore, it pre- 
sented the advantage of giving him a short cut 
along the bench or shelf when he should start 
out in the morning. 

Whistling and singing. Rod pitched his little 
dog tent, got out his cooking equipment and 
food supplies, after having cared for his horses, 
that were already grazing on the mountain 
grass. 

The skies had been overcast much of the day 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 139 


and by the time the lad had finished his supper 
the night was so dark that he was obliged to 
light his lantern when he went out to look after 
the stock. He found the ponies secure for the 
night and apparently well content. 

afraid you fellows will founder if you 
keep at it all night the way you are eating 
now/^ cried the boy, patting his mount. 

The pony paused long enough to nibble at 
the boy’s shirt sleeve, then resumed its grazing. 
As he was returning to his little camp a flash 
of lightning lighted up the mountain and the 
pass below for a brief instant, followed quickly 
by a roll of thunder. 

^^This looks as if it might be the storm Moe 
told about, only it isn’t going to be snow,” said 
Rodney, with a grin. “Somebody’s going to 
get wet if somebody doesn’t dig a ditch pretty 
soon. ’ ’ 

The lad set to work with such tools as he 
had to dig a trench on the up-hill side of his 
tent, carrying the ditch around the upper end 
of the tent so that the water would not run in. 

“There, nothing short of an eighteen-some- 
thing storm will overflow that,” laughed the 
boy happily. “If we get one of that kind not 
much of anything will matter, but I believe it 
is going to be nothing more than a passing 
shower. ’ ’ 


140 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


Having staked down his tent a little more se- 
curely, Rod sat down to watch the play of the 
lightning, which by this time had become al- 
most incessant. The lad felt no fear. The ele- 
ments held for him a weird fascination. As 
crash after crash of thunder followed the 
flashes of lightning, Rodney Rogers stood up, 
stepping out a little farther into the open that 
he might miss none of the display. 

^^And to think that we try to imitate this 
wonderful sight on Fourth of July night,’’ 
mused the hoy. 

No rain was falling, hut from the appearance 
of the clouds Rod was sure that there would 
he plenty of it before long. Suddenly there 
came a flash and a crash. Rodney was thrown 
flat on his face on the rock where he had been 
standing. The very mountain itself seemed to 
rock under the force of the explosion. For the 
moment the young range rider was too stunned 
to move. He recovered himself quickly, how- 
ever, and struggled to his feet, holding both 
hands to his head, which was dizzy. 

‘ ^ Goodness, but that was a whopper. I 
thought I had been struck. The bolt must have 
come pretty close to me. I wonder if the ponies 
are all right.” 

Hastily picking up his lantern from inside 
the tent^ the lad ran to the place where the 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 141 


stock was staked down. Neither animal had 
been harmed, but he observed that they were 
not grazing now. The ponies appeared ill at 
ease. They were stamping restlessly, tossing 
their heads and switching their tails. 

‘HUs all right, boys,^^ soothed Rodney, pat- 
ting each in turn. ^‘That will be about the 
worst of it, I think. YouTe going to get wet, 
but you wonT mind that. I shouldn’t be sur- 
prised if I got a soaking. I haven’t very much 
confidence in that dog tent.” 

As he was returning a flash showed him 
where the previous bolt had struck. A tall 
spruce that a few moments before had been 
standing less than twenty yards from him was 
now a mass of splinters. The tree had been 
literally torn to pieces. 

‘ ‘ That ought to make excellent kindling 
wood when it becomes well seasoned,” decided 

the lad philosophically. ” 

Another ear-splitting crash and roar cut 
short his words, then a shower of raindrops 
smote him in the face. 

There comes the rain!” cried Rod, starting 
for his tent on the run. ^^Tliat last crash did 
the business. Those clouds must have a pretty 
tough skin to stand all the bombarding they 
have had without springing a leak. Wow, but 
it certainly is coming down!” 


142 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


Torrents of water were descending upon tlie 
little camp perched up there on the mountain 
side. It was a storm calculated to send a thrill 
through almost anyone. It thrilled Eodney 
Eogers, though he experienced no sensation of 
fear. He gloried in the lightning, the thunder 
and the deluge, this latter in spite of the fact 
that his tent was leaking like a dripping pan. 

^H^m in for it this time,’^ shouted the lad, 
his voice sounding faint in the roar of the 
storm, as he began hastily to stow his belong- 
ings where they would he least likely to get 
soaked. Tlie packs outside were well protected 
by rubber blankets, so that he was sure none 
of the stores would be seriously damaged by 
the rain. 

The ponies were whinnying, but he could not 
hear them. In fact, at that moment he was 
thinking about the tent. The little dog tent 
was puffing and rocking like a captive balloon, 
for the wind was blowing a gale. 

Eodney watched the antics of the tent appre- 
hensively for a moment. 

‘Hf I expect to keep this outfit down. I’ll 
have to sit on it,” he said, taking the lantern 
in hand so as to have it ready for use in case 
of trouble and to prevent its being knocked 
over and broken, for on such a night a lantern 
might prove a most useful article. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 143 


For a full half hour Rod crouched shivering, 
wet to the skin, ready to spring out at the first 
intimation of further trouble. He felt a sense 
of apprehension that he had not seen the end 
of his troubles for that night, and in this in- 
stance Rodney Rogers was a true prophet. 
The beginning of the end was near at hand, 
much nearer than he thought. It came as he 
was wondering how soon the tent was going 
to be washed away, for the pegs were loosen- 
ing in the soft dirt. Each swing of the dog tent 
covered a wider range than before. 

Suddenly the earth began to tremble. There 
came a rumble that merged into a roar that 
was neither thunder nor rain. Rodney did not 
know what to make of it. He decided the time 
for him to move had arrived. 

It had. The lad, lantern in hand, leaped 
from the tent out into the open, but once there 
he was no better off than before so far as learn- 
ing what was going on. That something tre- 
mendous was occurring he knew full well, but 
what that something was he did not know. 

With a rush and a roar, mid the crashing of 
timber, the screams of fear from the ponies, 
some huge object went crashing and thunder- 
ing past him, sending a shower of dirt and 
stones over the boy, the force of the concussion 
hurling him headlong into a clump of bushes. 


144 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


Rod did not cry out. Nor did he lose his 
presence of mind in the least, hut he grasped 
the thorn hush with a strong grip, unmindful 
of the prick of the sharp thorns in his palms. 
He could hear the huge object, whatever it was, 
tearing and rending its way down the mountain 
side into the valley below. He listened until 
the crashing and roaring had ceased ; then 
crawled cautiously from the thorn bush, feeling 
himself to see if he were all there. Rod decided 
that he was. 

^^The next thing is to find out what has oc- 
curred, and after that how much has occurred. 
I guess I’ll light the lantern first of all.” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 145 


CHAPTER XV 

THE WKECK OF THE OUTFIT 

L ighting a lantem under tliose condi- 
tions was not the easiest thing in the 
world, but Rodney accomplished it with 
the aid of his broad-brimmed hat and a favor- 
able lull in the wind. He received an addi- 
tional wetting the instant he removed his hat. 

Fortunately the lantern had survived the 
rough treatment it had received. That it had 
not been destroyed was remarkable, and had 
not Rod clung tenaciously to it, he would have 
stood little chance of finding it again that night. 

With the lantem held before him the lad cau- 
tiously made his way to his camping spot. But 
there was no tent there. In place of the tent 
were the broken tent stakes, crushed deep into 
the soil, the ground about being torn up as if 
from an explosion. 

‘^It couldn’t have been lightning. What 
could it have been?” 

Holding the light above his head the lad 
glanced up the mountain side. There as far as 
he could see in the storm was a wide path that 
had been made by the object that had crashed 
by him. 

/( 


-/ Range and Grange. 


146 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


I know now,” cried tke Hustler. “The 
storm must have loosened a boulder up there. 
That ’s what it was. ’ ’ Then as he realized what a 
narrow escape he had had, he reflected. 

“If I hadn’t moved when I did, I would now 
be merely a grease spot on the landscape.” 
Outwardly the lad was calm, but little shivers 
ran up and down his spine. His agitation lasted 
but a moment, however. 

“The ponies!” he exclaimed, springing for- 
ward unmindful of the rain that was beating 
into his face and through his clothing. 

There were no ponies there. They had dis- 
appeared as utterly as had the tent. Eodney 
believed that they had been swept to their 
death by the boulder. He groaned inwardly, 
then turning, ran down the trail left by the 
huge rock. He had not gone far when he heard 
the whinny of one of the ponies. Eod was off 
in a twinkling toward the spot from which the 
sound had seemed to come. 

It was his own saddle pony. To his great 
relief the animal was not seriously injured, but 
it had become so entangled in the rope with 
which it had been staked down that it was help- 
less. The pony lay on its back in a little de- 
pression in the rocks. 

The Hustler cut the rope, rolled the little ani- 
mal over after no slight effort, whereupon the 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 147 


pony sprang to its feet, snorted and began 
springing np the rocks. 

Rod Rogers was on the animal’s neck in- 
stantly. 

‘‘No yon don’t! Yon don’t leave me in that 
fashion, sir! Is that the way yon repay my 
kindness in saving yonr life?” 

A tight grip on the pony’s nose bronght the 
latter to a standstill at once. With the short 
piece of rope that Rod held in his hand, he 
made a halter, and leading the animal to a safe 
place tied him to a tree. Next he went after 
the pack pony. 

“I snppose I shall find him down in the 
pass,” mattered the boy. 

He fonnd the pony halfway down the monn- 
tainside. The pack horse was still alive, bnt 
groaning. Rod examined him, finding that 
both front legs had been broken, hopelessly 
broken and crashed. 

‘ ‘ There is only one thing to be done, ’ ’ decided 
the lad after reflection. 

Rod straightened np, gazing thonghtfnlly at 
the storm that was beating down with even 
more force than before. The lightning was still 
‘vivid, bnt he saw that the centre of the elec- 
trical distnrbance was moving off to the east- 
ward. Rod knew that the rain itself wonld soon 
cease. However, so far as his personal com- 


148 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


fort "was concerned it made little difference 
whether the rain ceased or continued. The boy 
could be no wetter than he was. 

This was not what Eogers was thinking about 
at that moment. His mind was on the suffer- 
ing pony there at his feet. 

^‘You poor fellow!’^ muttered the lad. 
wish I could help you. Instead IVe got to do 
something that I don’t want to do. You’ll lie 
there in agony for days, otherwise. No, it must 
be done, though I have never faced a harder 
task in all my life.” 

The Hustler was a resolute lad. When he 
settled his mind on any certain course of action 
that thing was as good as done. 

Eod drew his revolver, examined it critically, 
then stepping over to the pony he placed the 
muzzle of the weapon against the unfortunate 
animal’s temple and pulled the trigger. That 
was all there was to it. The pack animal was 
dead instantly. The Hustler gulped down a sob 
as he rose, slipping the weapon back into its 
holster. 

‘Ht wouldn’t have been any harder to have 
done it to myself, ’ ’ he muttered. ‘ ‘ I must look 
for the packs now,” he concluded, turning his 
mind to the practical side of the situation. 

The packs were found a short distance down 
the mountain side where they had lodged 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 149 


against trees. They had been washed in the 
flood. Fortunately, the boulder had not caught 
them, else they would have been destroyed. 

am mighty glad of this,^^ said the boy, 
surveying the muddy covering of his stores. 

donT know how I am going to carry them 
all. I shall have to decide what to do next.’’ 

After brief reflection. Rod made up his mind 
as to the best course to pursue. He decided 
that he would have to leave some of the stores 
behind, returning for them after having de- 
livered what he could carry on his saddle pony. 
Then came the problem of the wild animals 
who would work havoc with the provisions that 
were not protected by cans. 

shall have to store the stuff, I guess,” said 
the boy. ‘‘Yes, that is what I’ll do. I’ll take a 
light pack on my own back for the number four 
outfit and be back here the day after to-mor- 
row for another load. I don’t want to go to 
the distributing depot as long as I have any 
stuff left, but I do wish I had another pony on 
the job.” 

Without giving any further heed to the 
storm. Rod bridled and led the pony down to 
the spot where the packs had been found. He 
loaded one of these on the pony, conveying it 
to a place of safety near where the stock had 
been staked down. Rod was sure there was 


150 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


no danger of another boulder coming down in 
the trail of the first one. Judging from the 
size of that one, there could be no more rock 
left up there. The second pack was disposed 
of soon after. Rod’s cooking utensils had all 
been swept away with the tent when the boulder 
crashed into the outfit. This did not trouble 
him. He was getting to be too good a moun- 
taineer to be disturbed by such trifles. 

Seeking out a convenient hollow in the rocks, 
Rogers packed in such of the stores as he would 
be unable to carry, then on top of these he piled 
stones and rocks, building a sort of roof over 
the stores. 

‘H don’t believe any sneaking coyote will be 
able to dig that out. A bear might, though,” 
he reflected. ‘‘However, I shall have to chance 
it. At any rate, I have done my best. I don’t 
see how I could do more to protect the com- 
pany’s property.” 

Nothing more could be done until daylight. 
The rain ceased as suddenly as it had begun, 
but the clouds still hung low over the moun- 
tains and the night was inky-black. 

The young range rider sat down on a wet rock. 
He was still sleepy, but having no place to sleep, 
he decided to remain awake until the rock be- 
neath him dried out sufficiently to warrant his 
lying down on it. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 151 


A dog barked somewhere off in the mountains. 
Rod raised his head, listening intently. 

‘‘That^s cnrions. I donT know of any flocks 
hereabouts. It must be some camper or hunter^ 
for the hunting season will be opening very soon 
now. IVe seen several bands of wandering 
Blackfeet hiking down into the canyons getting 
ready for the hunting season. ’ ^ 

The dog barked again, then all was silent. A 
few moments later a spot of light showed briefly 
high up on Bald Mountain, then went out. Rod- 
ney regarded the spot of light inquiringly. 

^Ht is strange, he muttered. donT know 
what that means, and I don’t know that I care, 
for I’m getting too tired to sit up.” 

With that he stretched out on the rock and 
went to sleep. Daybreak found him awake as 
usual. He set about getting breakfast at once. 
The most troublesome problem was that of mak- 
ing the wet wood burn. Rod constructed a stove 
of stones and after some effort got a bed of 
coals over which he cooked his bacon and coffee, 
making the latter in a can that had once held 
roast beef. There were neither forks, knives 
nor spoons. His entire outfit was strewn over 
the lower slopes of Bald Mountain, but Rod 
didn’t care. He was faring very well according 
to his way of looking at it. 

<< There’s one good thing about this affair. 


152 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


One doesn’t have so many dishes to wash,” he 
laughed, kicking the temporary coffee pot down 
the mountain. ^^This would suit that giant 
shepherd, Hutch Harley. He has a great aver- 
sion to washing dishes. There’s something 
strange about that man, ” reflected Rod. ^ ^ Some- 
how I get the creeps every time I am near him. ’ ’ 

The lad munched the last piece of bacon 
thoughtfully, then casting away the rind, rose 
quickly. 

‘‘Well, Jimmie, I guess we will be getting 
under way,” he said, addressing the pony. 
“You and I have a hard day’s work ahead of 
us, especially you. You’ve got to carry the 
stores and me too. We have a good many miles 
to go to-day and still more to go to-morrow and 
the day after, and so on until we get back to the 
station where you shall have a rest. ’ ’ 

The pack was slung to the back of the little 
animal and made fast by the hitch in which Rod 
was rapidly becoming more proficient. After 
a careful examination of the stores that he had 
hidden and a glance out over the pass where 
buzzards were circling high, Rod mounted the 
pony and set off along the edge of the moun- 
tain bench. 

It was late in the afternoon when he picked 
up the first outfit, a flock of some fourteen hun- 
dred ewes. He took late dinner with the shep- 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 153 


herd, to whom he related his experiences of the 
previous evening. The shepherds were begin- 
ning to like Rogers and to look forward to his 
coming. His cheery ways, his willingness and 
his Frightness made them feel better when he 
was with them. Frequently after he had gone 
they found themselves whistling, even singing, 
to the amazement of their faithful dogs. 

After dinner Rod started off again. He 
wanted to make the next outfit that day. It 
would be dark when he reached it he knew, but 
that would not matter, for he knew the trail well. 
Some trails he would not have dared to follow 
after dark, or would not have cared to follow 
unless it were absolutely necessary. With this 
one it was different. 

Rod rode into the camp of the second outfit 
about ten o^clock that night, rousing the shep- 
herd with a loud ^ ^ Hello followed by the 
lively barking of the shepherd ^s dog. 

^^Have you room for a straggler?’’ he called 
to Matt Howitt, the shepherd of the outfit. Matt 
and the range rider were fairly good friends. 
Unlike his fellows. Matt was quite a talker. 

reckon we’ve got room for your sort,” an- 
swered the shepherd. ‘^Where’s your packer ?’' 
he demanded, peering at the saddle horse. 

Broke his legs and I had to shoot him,” an- 
swered Rogers. ^^Any news up here?” 


154 THE KANGE AND GKANGE 


‘^Nary a news, Eod. How about you?’^ 

seldom hear any news from the outside 
world since I came up here. The world seems 
a long way off. Doesn^t it to you?’^ 

‘Ht used to. I seem to have forgotten most 
everything I knew about it,’’ reflected Matt. 

‘^How long have you been up here?’^ 

^‘Not so long as some.” 

‘^Hutch’s been here longer than you, hasn’t 
he?” 

^‘Yes, I reckon he must have growed here,” 
grinned Matt. suppose I’ll stay here, too, 
till something gits me or until I go bad up 
here,” tapping his head significantly. 

‘‘Nonsense!” exclaimed Kogers. 

“They all do, providin’ nothing else gits 
them,” nodded the shepherd. 

“I wonder why that is?” mused Rodney. “I 
should think a man’s mind would grow stronger 
instead of weaker, living such a life as this. I 
never could understand why so many shep- 
herds go crazy.” 

“That’s just what is it. It’s the life, it’s the 
bein’ alone till a feller learns to hate hisself. 
You see, he has too much time, he gits too well 
acquainted with hisself. Most of us can’t stand 
gitting too well acquainted with ourselves. If 
a feller wants to know what a measly, no-account 
sort of a hound he is, he wants to come up on 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 155 


the range, sit down and think about hisself while 
he’s tending the sheep. Ten to one he wishes 
somebody would up and send a forty-four 
through him. He’s lucky if he don’t get so all- 
fired disgusted with hisself that he does do it 
for hisself.” 

Rodney nodded his understanding. 

‘‘Ever feel that way, pardner?” 

“No, I guess I have not had the time to get 
well enough acquainted with myself since com- 
ing up here. I haven’t been here very long, you 
know.” 

“Goin’ to stay here always?” 

“No, I think not,” answered the boy thought- 
fully. 

“Going back to the city?” 

“Never to stay,” was the firm reply. “No, 
Matt, the call of the soil is too strong with me. 
I don ’t believe I could breathe in the city now ; 
I believe I should smother tucked up in a little 
room, breathing in the smoke and the cinders 
and the dust. If I talk about it much more I 
shall sneeze. Let’s talk about something else.” 

“How’d you lose the pack pony?” 

Rodney told him briefly, not making any great 
point of his own terrifying experience during 
the storm, the shepherd listening attentively, 
nodding in approval as he realized the part the 
young rider had played in the stirring scenes. 


156 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


^‘You ought to be up on the range/ ^ declared 
Matt, after the recital had ended. 

‘‘ ’Cause you’ve got the stuff in you. But if 
you come, don’t stay long enough to get too well 
acquainted with yourself.” 

promise that I won’t,” laughed the lad. 
propose that we turn in. I shall have to be 
up and doing in the morning.” 

The man and the boy rolled up in their blank- 
ets and went to sleep. 

Exciting days were ahead of the Hustler, 
though he did not know it, and he needed all 
the rest he could get to carry him through the 
trying experiences that he would be called upon 
to facOc 


HUSTLEES ON THE RANCH 157 


CHAPTER XVI 

KOD MAKES A DISCOVERY 

A fter an early breakfast with the shep- 
herd, just before daylight, Matt being 
obliged to be out on the range before 
the sheep started to move toward the grazing 
grounds, Rogers strapped his pack on the pony 
and was soon on his way to the next outfit. 

That night he camped out in a canyon. He 
made camp early and spent an hour before dark 
in shooting at a mark with his revolver. Rod 
was fast becoming proficient in the use of the 
weapon. He practiced more for sport than be- 
cause he expected ever to be compelled to use 
it. In fact, Rogers did not believe in carrying 
a pistol, though he realized it to be necessary 
in the case of the shepherds in order to protect 
their flocks from the depredations of coyotes, 
mountain lions and the like. Thus far he had 
had little need of a revolver. Rod had seen 
nothing more savage than a coyote and he be- 
lieved he could shoo oft a whole pack of them. 

As his supplies were almost exhausted, the 
lad decided to head for Bald Mountain to pick 
up the stores he had hidden there. After these 
had been distributed he would return to the sta- 


158 THE RANGE AND GRANGE 


tion where he could procure another pack pony 
and perhaps meet Glen Stevens. Both lads 
looked forward to these meetings with keen an- 
ticipation. 

Next morning Rodney continued his journey. 
It was late in the day when he rode up the pass 
at the foot of the mountain. He found the 
boulder that had caused him so much trouble. 
It was more like a piece of the mountain itself 
than a mere boulder. Rod decided that it must 
weigh hundreds of tons. He could not under- 
stand how he had missed being killed, having 
been so close to the rock when it passed him, 
thundering its way down the slope. 

‘‘However, a miss is as good as a thousand 
miles, said the lad philosophically. “There 
isn’t any more danger here than anywhere else. 
If I had remained in Butte I might have been 
run over by a street car on the hill or battered 
by a taxicab. ’ ’ 

Jimmie was led up the mountain side by his 
young master. They took a zig-zag course to 
make it easier for man and beast. Rod reached 
the bench puffing and blowing. 

“Whew! This rare air does take hold of me. 
At home I could run all day without getting out 
of breath and here a little climb takes all the 
wind out of me. I suppose I shall get used to it 
after a while. Hello, what’s this?” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 159 


A can of tomatoes lay at his feet. Rod re- 
garded it suspiciously, then picking it up ex- 
amined the unopened can. 

‘‘That must have gotten away from me the 
other night. I wonder how the rest of the stuff 
isr^ 

Making his way to where he had secreted the 
stores, Rodney uttered an exclamation and stood 
gazing in open-mouthed amazement. 

The rocks had been torn away from the stores. 
Cans and packages had been strewn about in all 
directions. The packages had been ripped open, 
but the cans were still sealed, though some were 
badly dented or crushed, the contents oozing out 
of a can here and there. 

“Oh, this is too bad!’’ cried the lad. “I be- 
lieve those miserable coyotes did this. Maybe 
it was a bear.” 

Rodney began taking an inventory of the 
stores that were left. He found that two hams 
were missing as were several pounds of tobacco 
that he carried for the shepherds. 

“I can understand their taking the hams, but 
what would a coyote or a bear want with to- 
bacco? I can’t believe the animals up here are 
quite so depraved as all that. I wish I had my 
list, so I could tell whether any of the canned 
stuff is missing. The list went down the moun- 
tain side with the tent and the other things.” 


160 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


Searching about below the spot, Rodney found 
a few more cans. It looked very much as if the 
animal that bad robbed the stores bad scratched 
these away with its paws. The lad was forced to 
the conclusion that some animal bad done the 
plundering. Upon examining the scene more 
closely be even found what be decided were 
scratches from the beast’s paws. Then again 
the dirt bad been dug up in places. It was all 
quite plain to him now. 

wish I bad a rifle. I’d go after that gentle- 
man and keep after him until I settled with him 
for the stuff be has stolen. I hope he enjoyed 
the tobacco,” grinned Rod. ^Ht probably is 
lying around near here. I will keep an eye out 
for it when I leave. Now there’s nothing to do 
but to gather up what is left and be on my way. ” 

This was quickly done. Rod scolding and talk- 
ing to himself as be worked. The badly smashed 
cans be threw away, fearing that some dirt might 
have gotten in through the openings. The rub- 
ber blanket was spread out on the ground, the 
stores neatly arranged in it and tied into as se- 
cure a package as possible. 

‘‘There, I guess that will hold until I get to 
the next outfit. If it doesn’t I shall simply have 
to gather it up again, which won’t be the first 
time I have had to do so. Come here, Jimmie. 
I guess this pack won’t break your back.” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 161 


The pony dutifully moved over, reaching up 
and pulling Rod^s hat from his head. 

‘^That will do, Jimmie. I know you are feel- 
ing your oats, or the oats you didn’t get, but 
you can show your good feeling by hurrying me 
over the mountain. Whoa! Wait till I get this 
pack on your back. Then you can travel as fast 
as you want.” 

Still talking to the pony, which seemed to un- 
derstand what his master was saying, Rodney 
completed his work, then swinging into the sad- 
dle, sent his mount ahead, whistling to himself 
as he rode. The boy’s gaze was on the ground 
most of the time, his glance moving from one side 
of the trail to the other. Those packages of 
tobacco still troubled him. He fully expected to 
find them, for he felt sure they were somewhere 
about. 

‘‘Ah, there it is. Whoa, Jimmie!” he cried, 
dropping the bridle rein, slipping from the sad- 
dle to the ground, where he picked up a torn 
sheet of yellow paper. 

Rod regarded it questioningly. 

“That is curious,” he muttered. “He cer- 
tainly didn’t eat the stuff. If he had, he surely 
would be laid out somewhere near here. Per- 
haps that is a good way to catch bears,” laughed 
the lad. I ” 

Suddenly he stooped over, critically examining 

/ / / Range and Grange. 


162 THE EANGE AND GKANGE 


the ground. There on a bunch of soft moss was 
the imprint of a foot. Kod was enough of a 
mountaineer by this time to observe a sign as 
plain as this one. Had he still been a tenderfoot 
he probably would not have seen it at all. 

The boy uttered an exclamation. 

^‘A moccasin track! Yes, and there is th© 
other. ’ ^ 

Eod uttered a long, low whistle. 

^Hndians! It’s a two-legged bear that has 
been stealing my stores, el Those thieving 
Blackfeet are hunting for somethin' ' ''sides wild 
game, and they’ll get something ''•am® 

if I catch them.” 

Eogers’ face was flushed. L ; i 
up and his lips took on the firm seu - - 

observable when he had determined on some ^ 
ticular line of action. 

‘^Come, Jimmie, I’ll walk. You follow along 
after me,” commanded Eod, looping the reins 
over the pommel of the saddle. ‘^They can’t 
be far away.” 

The boy, with head bent well over, keenly scan- 
ning both sides of the trail, started off at a brisk 
walk, with Jimmie stumbling along some dis- 
tance to the rear. 


HUSTLEES ON THE RANCH 16 a 


CHAPTER XVII 

ON THE TRAIL OF THE BLACKFOOT 

W HILE Rodney had never had any ex- 
perience in following a human trails 
he was a keen, close observer and bet- 
ter still, a natural woodsman. He had full con- 
fidence in his ability to follow the Blackfoot trail 
until he came up ' fith the band. He had made 
no plans as to what he would do when he did 
find the Indians. 

He had followed along for an hour when his 
confidence sustained a set back. The lad dis- 
covered that he had lost the trail. He had not 
seen a moccasin track in some time. Getting 
down on hands and knees, he made a careful ex- 
amination of the ground, crawling from side to 
side of the trail. Rod finally rose, brushing the 
dirt from his trousers. 

guess I am not much of a trailer, after all,’^ 
he grinned. ^‘I’m going back where I last saw 
the footprints. ’ ’ 

He did so, leading the horse, for Rod was in 
a hurry now. He had lost some valuable time 
and desired to make it up if possible. 

He had no difficulty in finding the trail left 
by the Blackfoot. When he turned about to fol- 


164 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


low it there was a look of grim determination 
on the face of the Hustler. He moved slowly and 
carefully, examining every foot of the ground. 

Noon found the lad still creeping along, for- 
getful of the fact that it was time to prepare 
his dinner. Jimmie was doing very well with 
the nibbles he got along the way, but he kept his 
eyes on his master, not permitting himself to 
lag far behind. 

At last Rodney darted otf to one side of the 
trail. His quick eyes had caught sight of a bush, 
one stem of which had been trampled down. 

^HVe got it!^^ exclaimed the la^. ‘‘Here is 
where the fellow turned off. I wonder if he 
heard me coming and dodged into the bushes? 
No, that wasn’t it. In that case the Indian 
wouldn’t have stepped on the bush and I 
shouldn ’t be finding his mark here. Jimmie, you 
stay where you are until I come back.” 

Rod cautiously followed the direction taken 
by the footsteps. They led him over several 
rods of table rocks on which there was no trail 
to follow. A short distance beyond he came 
upon another trail. This was a narrow, but well- 
beaten path, leading he knew not where. He 
had never chanced to come upon that trail be- 
fore. 

“It must be one of the Indian runways,” he 
mused. “Yes, that’s what it is. No wonder I 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 165 


didnT know about it. I^m on the right track 
now, I am sure of that. 1^11 get Jimmie and try 
it again. 

It was necessary to make a detour around the 
rocks, for Jimmie, loaded as he was, could not 
conveniently climb over them without danger 
to himself as well as to the burden he was carry- 
ing. Rod found the way and soon after was in 
the path, walking briskly along. So sure waa 
he of his ground now that he did not give the 
same attention to the trail. His eyes were 
searching thfe landscape ahead of him. He was 
looking for smoke — the smoke of a campfire. 

‘‘They can’t be so far away. And that re- 
minds me, I wonder if the light I saw up on Bald 
Mountain the other night had anything to do 
with the loss of my stores? I shouldn’t be sur- 
prised at all. What an easy mark I am. Why, 
the fellow was watching me all the time and I 
never knew it. Guess I wouldn’t have made 
much of an Indian fighter when they were fight- 
ing the red men all over this western country.” 

Thus talking to himself, keenly observant, 
Rogers kept on, walking rapidly, giving Jimmie 
opportunity for only an occasional nibble at the 
grass. Jimmie was so well filled by this time, 
however, that he did not appear to mind. Oc- 
casionally his master would utter a sharp com- 
mand over his shoulder at the horse, whereupon 


166 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


the little animal would trot along nntil his nose 
was fairly against the lad^s back. 

Twilight fell, and with it Rod’s confidence 
went down a few degrees. 

am afraid I shall have to give it np soon. 
I shan’t be able to follow the trail much longer, 
that is, unless I use the lantern.” 

Upon reflection, the young mountaineer de- 
cided that trailing an Indian with the aid of a 
lantern might not be the best policy, so with a 
laugh he gave up the idea. 

As night fell the Hustler came to a halt. He 
led the horse some distance away from the trail, 
making his camp where he would be sheltered by 
the rocks. There he cooked his supper in grim 
silence. Supper was a long-drawn-out affair 
that night, and before he had finished the food 
had grown cold. 

Rod cleared away the supper things and beat 
out the fire, so as not to attract the attention of 
any stray Blackfoot returning over the trail. 
The lad did not believe they would look for pur- 
suit on his part. The Indians no doubt knew 
that he was comparatively new in the mountains. 
Had he not been, their theft might not have been 
so easy. 

^H’m a piece of living evidence of that fact,” 
said the boy aloud, with a short laugh. How- 
ever, they haven’t heard the last of Rod Rogers 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 167 


yet — no, sir ; not by a great deal ! Jimmie, you 
keep quiet. I^m going out to make an obser- 
vation. ^ ^ 

Jimmie shook himself violently as if he were 
having a chill. 

^ ^ Stop that ! ^ ^ commanded Rodney, halting for 
a moment, then striding away. He did not go 
far from the camp. The moon was rising bril- 
liantly, lighting up the high places, deepening 
the gloom in the canyons of the range. 

Looking about him, he espied a high point 
of rock which he climbed. There he sat down, 
searching the rugged country with keen glances. 

‘^The chances are,’^ Rod muttered, ‘‘that they 
are camped in one of those canyons. I haven’t 
seen them up on the ranges at all since I have 
been out here. ’ ’ 

As he gave utterance to his thought Rodney 
saw what he believed to be a thin wisp of cloud 
floating across the face of the moon. The cloud 
was low down near the tops of the mountains. 
He gave it only passing attention at the time. 
Soon another cloud floated before him, dissL 
pating itself into thin air. 

“That’s curious.” 

Rogers lowered his glances. With a sudden 
exclamation he scrambled to his feet. 

“Smoke! That isn’t a cloud at all. I have 
stumbled upon either a mountaineer’s camp or 


168 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


else the Blackfeet are down there. It can’t be 
more than a mile from here, and I am going to 
find out who and what is down there, ’ ’ declared 
the lad triumphantly. 

Taking careful note of the lay of the country 
about him, that he might be able to find his way 
back, the Hustler hurried from his point of ob- 
servation and began trotting along, increasing 
his speed as he went. The way soon grew 
rougher and he was forced to slow down or 
run the risk of a fall, which might interfere with 
the carrying out of his plans. Half an hour was 
consumed in getting near the spot where he had 
seen the smoke. As he drew closer to it the 
wind blew the scent of the smoke to him. Rod 
sniffed the air and chuckled. 

Soon he caught the glow of a fire. He now 
proceeded with more caution. An Indian could 
hardly have done better, and the Hustler was 
fairly on the edge of the camp before his pres- 
ence became known to the half dozen men and 
twice that number of women and children who 
were squatting about the fire. 

Beyond them Rodney saw wigwams faintly 
outlined. 

guess there is no mistake about this,” he 
said, a grim smile lighting up his face for the 
moment. ‘‘They are waiting for me.” 

The Blackfeet had risen, all save one man, 


HUSTLEES ON THE RANCH 169 


who sat stolidly by the fire, not deigning to 
turn his head toward the approaching stranger. 
Rodney headed straight for the fire and the sit- 
ting Indian, whom the boy shrewdly surmised 
was the chief. The others eyed Rod sus- 
piciously, but they made no effort to stop or 
speak to him. 

^^Good evening,’’ said the Hustler pleas- 
antly as he drew up before the campfire. 

‘‘How!” grunted the chief. 

“Chilly this evening, isn’t it?” asked the 
boy, rubbing his hands which he held close to 
the blaze. 

“Huh!” grunted the sitting man. “Who 
you?” 

“I am one of the sheep men. I’m camping 
a little way down the mountain. I saw your 
smoke and didn’t know but it might be some 
friends of mine up here. Hunting?” 

“No!” The chief shot a suspicious glance 
at him. 

‘ ‘ I didn ’t know but you might be. I stumbled 
over a couple of deer feet out yonder. Of course 
you couldn ’t have been hunting, for it ’s against 
the law. The season hasn’t opened yet.” 

There was a touch of irony in the tone of 
the range rider as he uttered the words. The 
chief started, shifted uneasily, then looked at 
the young man again. 


170 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


you want?” 

‘^For the present I wish to warm my hands 
at your campfire.” 

Where you come?” 

have been calling at the ranches. How 
is the game outlook on the range? I hear the 
deer are feeding pretty high up now. I guess 
they knew you were coming, Chief.” 

At this the squaws began chattering among 
themselves, then one addressed her remarks to 
the chief. He replied with a brief series of 
guttural explosions. At this, some of the other 
braves drew near. The chief uttered more ex- 
plosives, whereat the braves squatted down 
about the fire, the women doing the same, all 
eyes fixed on the cool young man warming his 
hands at their inhospitable campfire. 

‘^How is the game. Chief?” repeated Eod- 
ney. 

‘^Game him all right. No shoot till three suns 
pass.” 

Eogers laughed. 

^‘That is, when some one is looking?” 

^^Huh?” 

^‘You donT shoot when strangers are about? 
I understand. I think the game warden has 
his eyes on you just the same. Chief Johnnie 
Boy. That is your name, isnT it?” 

^‘Me Chief Johnnie,” answered the Black- 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH ITl 


foot, without showing surprise that the lad 
knew his name. Inwardly the chief was some- 
what surprised and not a little alarmed. He 
was thinking of the deer feet just outside the 
camp, and Rod’s reference to them made John- 
nie still more uneasy. 

Rodney permitted Johnnie to believe, for the 
moment, that in reality he had come there to 
inquire into the illegal hunting that the mem- 
bers of the roving hand had been doing in the 
mountains. 

During all of this Rogers kept up the pre- 
tence of being very chilly, continuing to warm 
his hands before the fire. He felt no fear of 
the braves, though without appearing to do so 
the lad was observing every move, on the alert 
to catch the slightest indication of trouble. If 
there were to be trouble he proposed to start 
it himself when ready, but he rather enjoyed 
the discomfiture of the chief. 

‘‘What you want?” demanded Johnnie Boy 
in a sterner tone than he had yet used. 

“What do I want?” replied Rodney Rogers, 
pronouncing his words slowly and distinctly. 

“Yes, what you want? You want nothing, 
then you go. Johnnie not want you, braves not 
want you.” 

“I don’t seem to be very popular around 
here, do I?” smiled the Hustler. 


172 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


‘‘Sheep man go back to his own campfire!’’ 
commanded Johnnie. 

“Yes, I’ll go back, Chief, bnt before going I 
have something I wish to say to you. You may 
not like to hear it, but you will have to listen 
whether or not you wish to ” 

“What you want?” interjected Johnnie 
angrily. 

“I’ll tell you what I want,” said the lad, sud- 
denly dropping his easy manner and speech, 
assuming a sharp, business-like tone instead. 
“If you please I will take that can of baked 
beans that you are so carefully concealing 
under your knees.” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 173 


CHAPTER XVm 

CHIEF JOHNNIE BOY^S DILEMMA 

A S Rodney uttered the words he took a 
step toward the chief. 

The squaws uttered a shrill cry in 
chorus, the braves leaping to their feet, but the 
chief sat motionless. As he observed the threat- 
ening attitude of the men, the Hustler permitted 
one hand to fall carelessly to his pistol hostler. 

The holster was empty. It was then that Rod 
recalled having left the weapon in his saddle. 
Instead of being alarmed, the boy laughed, 
such was his confidence in himself. Stepping 
quickly over to the chief, Rodney stopped, 
deftly snatching a can of baked beans from un- 
der the knees of Chief Johnnie Boy. 

The chief sprang up with an angry impreca- 
tion, while the braves pressed closer. Rod’s 
hand still rested on his pistol holster. 

^‘Get back there, you fellows. Don’t you 
dare to lay a hand on me. I’ll teach you that 
you can’t rob my outfit and get away with it 
without settling the bill for supplies.” 

^^Go!” thundered the chief. 

‘^Yes, I’ll go, but not until I get what be- 
longs to me.” 


174 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


‘^Jolinnie got nothing of white hoy^s/^ 

‘^You haven’t? Then where is it?” 

Chief Johnnie not know what white boy 
means. ’ ’ 

will tell yon what I mean. Some time dur- 
ing the past two or three days either yourself 
or some of your braves went up on Bald Moun- 
tain and stole some stores I had stowed there. 
It was on the evening of the storm that you 
were watching me when I was in camp. You 
were prowling about ready to swoop down and 
help yourself to what did not belong to me in 
case the rock that carried away my tent and 
injured my pack pony had gotten me too. 
You’re a fine specimen of the noble Eed Man, 
you are! Having learned that I was not killed 
you decided to take the stores at any rate, hut 
you didn’t dare to come and get them while I 
was on the job. You knew you would be shot 
at if you did, so you watched me, saw where 
I hid them, then sneaked in and stole what you 
wanted ” 

‘‘White man no tell truth,” interrupted the 
chief. 

“Being too cowardly to take the risk of being 
found out you had to lay it to a bear.” Eod- 
ney uttered a short laugh. “I believed that it 
was a bear until finally it occurred to me that 
no bears that I had ever seen were addicted to 



s 




f 


* 




HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 177 


the use of tobacco. Then I got on your trail. 
Now I have caught you with the beans on your 
person, or pretty close to your person.’^ 

Chief Johnnie shook his head. 

^^Me find him.’^ 

^^You didnT! You stole it!^^ Rod^s jaws' 
came together over the words with a snap. 
‘‘Turn out the stuff and he quick about it, un- 
less you are willing to take the consequences^, 
you thief!’’ 

“Me get, me get. Me find, me no steal,”' 
protested the chief, now thoroughly cowed by 
the bold front of the Hustler. 

“We will not argue the question. What I 
want is the stufi’. You had better look to it 
that the game warden doesn’t have something* 
to say to you before long.” 

The chief lost no time. He issued a sharp 
order to a squaw, who hurried away, soon after- 
returning with a miscellaneous assortment of 
stuff that Rod recognized as belonging to his' 
stores. He took the articles from the squaw 
one by one, examining each gravely, then plac- 
ing it on the ground before him. 

“Now bring the rest,” he ordered after look- 
ing over the lot. 

“No more, no more; him all there,” said 
Johnnie Boy. 

“You are bound to get into more trouble^. 


12 / Range and Grange. 


178 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


aren’t you, Johnnie? Bring the rest of it and 
bring it now, I am tired of fooling with you, 
nor will I do so much longer. I want all of the 
stores you took, except what you have eaten. 
I will let that part go, hut if ever you take a 
thing out of my outfit again, you won’t get off 
so easy.” 

Ere Rodney had ceased speaking, the squaw, 
obeying a signal from the chief, had disap- 
peared. When she returned she brought with 
her as much more as she had carried the first 
time. 

‘^Now tie them up. I ought to make you 
carry them to my camp, but I don’t want you 
in my sight a minute longer than necessary. 
Tie them up.” 

One of the braves made a hitch about the 
bundle with a few wisps of long grass. Rod 
picked it up. 

bid you good evening, Mr. Johnnie Boy. 
Take my advice and be a good Indian, ’^u’ll 
find, these days, that it doesn’t pay ■ ’ r- 
wise.” 

With that the Hustler strode from ' i- 
lugging his stores with one hand, the oth 
discreetly covering the empty pistol holste. 

When he found himself clear of the camp hv 
put down his bundle, sat down on the ground 
and laughed. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 179 


‘‘If they had only known that there was noth- 
ing but air in that holster. I believe they would 
have pitched into me if it hadn’t been for what 
I said about the game warden. I’m not so sure 
that he isn’t after them. He is looking for 
someone up here. Well, I have my stores, so 
why should I care whether they are violating 
the game laws or not? It is the warden’s busi- 
ness to look after that.” 

Rod, with his bundle, made his way back to 
his cheerless camp. As quickly as possible he 
repacked the rescued stores in the rubber 
blanket, which he strapped on the back of the 
pony. Jimmie looked his surprise. Instead of 
being allowed to doze he was going to be put to 
work again. 

“I’m sorry, Jimmie,” Rod told him. “I’m 
going to move because I am afraid those In- 
dians will come around here to get even with 
us. They might steal our chuck again, you 
know, and then I’d have to go hungry. You 
wouldn’t care, would you? No, of course not. 
You pretend to be a friend of mine, but you 
are not. It wouldn’t make any difference if 
you were. You would have to go on just the 
same. ’ ’ 

Swinging into the saddle, after all was ready, 
Rogers took the back track, hoping to reach 
the notch trail where he would have to turn 


180 THE KANGE AND GRANGE 


oft in the morning. He wanted to make the 
supply station on the following night. To do 
so he would have to ride hard all the next day, 
even if he started from the notch. The moon 
was now high and the night was bright. The 
trail was fairly easy to follow. 

It was a night ride that Rod long remem- 
bered, not because of any experiences of a 
startling nature, for there were none, but for 
the wonderful beauty of the night. The moon- 
mist hung over the mountain like a silver 
mantle, while the tall spruces above him whis- 
pered together as they bent their heads to every 
zephyr that drifted across the ranges. The leafy 
screen on the eastern mountain wall, through 
which the moon had pushed its way earlier in 
the evening, had now settled back and become 
a part of the mountain itself. 

Rodney Rogers felt the spirit of the wilder- 
ness stir within him, yet the wonderful mys- 
tery of the hour held him silent and awestruck. 
A great alteration had been wrought in the boy 
during the time he had been on the range. Al- 
ways a manly, ambitious lad, he was now awak- 
ening to real manhood. An indefinable change 
had come to him in the silence of the ridges 
and canyons of the Great Divide. He realized 
it vaguely, but was unable to explain it to his 
own satisfaction. The old Rodney had disap- 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 181 


peared forever, but a new and splendid type 
of young American manhood had risen in its 
place. 

The young man was thinking of all this as 
he rode along. He was thinking of what he 
was determined to accomplish in the future and 
of what he already had done for himself. 

^^It must be this rare mountain air that has 
done so much for me, ’ ’ was the way the Hustler 
explained the improvement in himself. 

Reaching his objective point about two 
o’clock in the morning, the lad decided that he 
would not make camp until daylight. The 
night was so fine that it would be a pity to 
sleep, so he pressed on through the silent 
miracle of the early hours until the gorgeous 
colors of the dawn were over all, tinging the 
mountain tops and transforming the tiny specks 
of cloud that were scattering at the approach 
of day. 

‘^Well, Jimmie,” said Rodney, breaking the 
spell abruptly, don’t know how you feel 
about it, but I am going to start the kitchen 
fire. ’ ’ 

Jimmie snorted approvingly. 

‘^Here is a splendid place right by this lit- 
tle mountain spring. Don’t you dare stick your 
nose into it until I get the breakfast water. I 
like you pretty well, but not well enough to- 


182 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


drink out of the same pail with you/’ laughed 
the lad, throwing himself from the saddle, 
quickly loosening the pack, which he laid to 
one side and began getting out the food and 
utensils for the morning meal. 

The next night Rodney rode into the station 
just after dark. Glen Stevens was there, hav- 
ing arrived before sundown. The hoys were 
delighted to see each other. They talked and 
talked until they fairly ran out of conversa- 
tion. During the evening they decided that 
they would ride into town in the morning. 
Rodney wished to make a report of the loss of 
the pack pony as well as to get another. Be- 
sides this, there were odds and ends that the 
lads desired to order from the general ware- 
house of the company. 

They did not see the general foreman on this 
trip. Neville, somehow, had learned all about 
Rod’s experiences and had told the owner, as 
Rogers learned when they called at the ojBfice 
in Shelby on the following morning. 

Rogers made his report to Captain Woods, 
am very sorry, sir, that I have to report 
anything of this sort, ’ ’ said Rod. ‘ ^ If you think 
me to blame I’ll pay for what has been de- 
stroyed. ’ ’ 

Captain Woods laughed. 

‘‘My boy, if you lose no more property for 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 183 


us than you have lost so far you will prove a 
pretty profitable investment for us.’^ 

'^Why should I lose anything! 

^^Why did you lose the pack horse! 

see. You mean that Nature is one too 
many for us! I think I understand. ^ ^ 

^^Yes, Nature, and brute nature, too, at times, 
I am glad you cowed that scoundrel, Johnnie 
Boy, not alone because of the stores, but because 
he is a bad Indian. You must have given him 
a big scare, for he headed for the reservation 
that very night with all his braves and squaws. 
What did you do — threaten him by force of 
arms ! ’ ’ 

^^Well, no, not exactly. I didnT have any 
arms. I fooled him with an empty pistol 
holster. I kept my hand over the top of the 
holster so he might not see that I didnT have 
a revolver,^’ answered the Hustler sheepishly. 

am glad I didnT have one. I get along just 
about as well without one.’’ 

^^You took a long chance,” marveled the 
captain. ^ Ht is a wonder you got away without 

being roughly handled ” 

‘‘Pshaw! Johnnie is a coward.” 

“Yes, we know that, but sometimes these 
sneaking fighters are the worst kind. They get 
you when you aren’t looking. What did you 
say to him!” 


184 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


accused him of violating the game law/' 
answered Rodney, smiling. 

‘^Had her’ 

^^Some one in that vicinity had.” 

The captain laughed heartily. Then the two 
settled down to a discussion of affairs on the 
range. Having been thoroughly over the 
ground, Rodney was able to give his employer 
a great deal of useful information. To all of 
the lad’s suggestions, modestly made, Captain 
Woods gave the closest attention and most 
careful consideration. He placed no little con- 
fidence in Rogers’ judgment. As the boy dis- 
cussed the affairs of the range Captain Woods 
secretly wished that Rodney were older so that 
he might put him in charge of one of the 
ranches. 

‘^Then you like the sheep business, do you, 
Rogers?” asked Captain Woods, after regard- 
ing the lad with silent inquiry for some sec- 
onds. 

‘‘Yes, sir, I like it very much. I think I shall 
like all branches of the stock business.” 

“Why do you think so?” 

“I suppose it is because one comes so close 
to Nature. Then again, I think there must be 
good money in the sheep business, carried on 
in your way. I hope to have some sheep of 
my own some day.” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 185 


Yes, there is money in it for the right man/^ 

‘‘How much, sir?^^ interjected Rogers. 

“Now, my lad, you are asking a leading ques- 
tion,’^ laughed the owner of the Silver Bow. 
“However, I understand you a: 1 I shall be 
glad to give you whatever infori tion I can. 
It is impossible to fix upon any dt .nite figure 
as profit. Some seasons we run at a loss. Then 
perhaps the following season our profits will 
be large.” 

“I understand that, sir, but what does it cost 
to raise sheep?” 

“That varies, too. I wish I knew what it 
were going to cost per head for the next ten 
years. Roughly speaking we figure that sheep 
raising to-day costs double what it did ten 
years ago. Some difference, isn’t there?” 

“Indeed, there is. Why?” 

“The high cost of living for one thing. It 
costs considerably more a month to feed a man 
than it did ten years ago,” sighed the rancher. 
“That is the way all around. We are paying 
higher prices for everything and we are not 
getting so much more for our stock. All that 
takes something off the profits.” 

“Yes, sir, I understand.” 

“Then again there is now no free range. It 
costs us ten cents a year for every sheep we 
graze on the Government forest reserves. As, 


186 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


we have about one hundred and fifty-five thou- 
sand head of sheep and a great many cattle, 
you can well understand that it costs something 
to run this establishment.’’ 

‘^Yes, sir, but what about the returns?” per- 
sisted the young range rider. 

A peculiar smile fiitted over the face of the 
rancher. 

see there is no beating about the bush 
with you,” he laughed. ‘Hf we strike a fair 
market we should make a net profit of thirty 
thousand dollars on our lambs this fall. Then 
our ewes and lambs produce a handsome crop 
of wool as well. It is the aggregate that gives 
us our big profits when we have big profits.” 

‘^This being a fair season, how much could 
you make in a very good season?” asked Rod- 
ney. 

‘^We could more than double the profit, I 
think. In fact, we have done so on several oc- 
casions. If all stockmen were of the same in- 
quiring turn of mind as yourself there’s no 
doubt that they would make more profit. It’s 
the getting to the bottom of things that counts. 
You just keep on inquiring. In that way you 
will learn the ins and outs of your business.” 

Rogers was figuring carefully on a piece of 
wrapping paper that he had picked up from the 
floor, Captain Woods observing him inquiringly. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 187 


‘^Taking it all in all, the stock business 
strikes me as paying pretty well, sir,’^ said the 
lad, turning a pair of bright eyes to his em- 
ployer. ^^Even on a small scale it would pay 
well. I never knew there was so great an op- 
portunity for money-making in this line.” 

^ ^ It pays the right man, ’ ^ answered the 
rancher briefly. 

^‘What kind of man, sir?” 

^ ‘ The man who likes the business, in the first 
place. That is an important essential; the man 
with a head, with brains; the man who has 
pluck, who can lose and come up smiling for 
the next knock-down. I think you could do 
that. That kind of man will make money in 
the sheep business. No doubt about that.” 

‘‘As a business for a young man, would you 
advise it, sir?” 

“Yes. Why not, if he possesses the qualities 
mentioned ? Other things being equal, he ought 
to become rich. There are golden opportu- 
nities awaiting him. Mind you, all sheepmen 
do not possess the qualities mentioned, and 
thaUs why they are working along in the same 
old rut.” 

“I thank you very much, sir,” answered 
Rodney after a mementos thought. 

“You are welcome if I have given you any 
encouragement,” smiled Captain Woods. 


188 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


‘‘You have given me a great deal of encour- 
agement, sir,” replied young Rogers, rising. 

They finished their conversation just before 
noon. Captain Woods invited the young men 
to his house to dinner. Late in the afternoon 
the Hustlers left town for the distributing sta- 
tion, from where they were to strike out once 
more into the wilds of the mountains. This 
journey was to prove the most exciting of all 
that Rodney had yet taken. 

But, of course, he did not know that. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 189 


CHAPTER XIX 

UNDER fire! 

T he riders took out heavy packs on this 
round of the ranges, for each had two 
more flocks or outfits to supply. Neither 
lad met with any exciting experiences for the 
first four days of their trips. It was on the 
fourth day that Rodney made Matt Howitt’s 
camp in the evening, as he usually planned to 
do for the sake of a good visit with the shepherd. 

Rod, on the following day, hoped to make the 
Hutch Harley outfit, some fifteen miles over the 
ranges, a rough ride and a trying one, hut then 
by this time the Hustler was used to rough rid- 
ing. There was v.ery little of any other kind 
in his work, so he did not look forward to the 
ride with any misgivings. He had ridden the 
range so many times that he knew the trails by 
heart, knew every tree along them and felt that 
he had a speaking acquaintance with every liv- 
ing thing on the route. 

The boy came in sight of the mountain where 
Harley ’s grazing grounds were about one o ^clock 
in the afternoon. Scanning the mountains, 
Rogers failed to see any of the sheep. He im- 
agined that the animals were taking their mid- 


190 THE RANGE AND GRANGE 


day rest in the shade of the trees. That he did 
not see them was no reason for believing that 
the outfit had moved. 

He was still a good hour from the shepherd’s 
tent, so Rod urged his ponies along at a faster 
pace, as fast as was prudent on that narrow trail 
which frequently presented dizzy jumping-otf 
places that would have sent a chill up and down 
the back of a tenderfoot. Rod was no longer 
in this class, as he was beginning to realize, 
though there was no conceit in his make-up. 

At last he came out on the grazing grounds 
where the shepherd’s tent stood in plain view. 
Rod rode up to the tent, and, staking down his 
ponies went inside. He rather expected to find 
Harley there taking a sleep, but the shepherd 
was not at home. Examining the tent, the range 
rider discovered that the place was in greater 
confusion than ever since he had been visiting 
the outfit. 

Canned goods lay scattered about the floor, 
some even having been thrown out into the open, 
where the cans lay, showing spots of rust; the 
stove also showed rough treatment. 

Rod was perplexed at this. At first he thought 
there had been a fight in the tent; then he de- 
cided that this could not have been the case. 
There was some other cause for the condition in 
which he found the tent. He finally came to the 


HUSTLEES ON THE RANCH 191 


conclusion that it was simply carelessness on the 
part of the shepherd that had put the place in 
such disorder. 

‘H donT think I will leave any stores until 
I find out what Hutch means by wasting stuff 
in this fashion/’ decided the lad. ‘H am going 
to have trouble with that man one of these times. 
I don’t like the way he acts. I told Captain 
Woods so, and he laughed at me. He said I’d 
know shepherds better after I had known them 
longer. ’ ’ 

Stepping outside, Rodney changed the position 
of the pack pony, after having removed the pack, 
so that the animal might have better grazing, 
then relieving his saddle pony of his burdens, 
got on and rode out over the range in search of 
Hutch Harley. 

After more than an hour’s searching about 
the lad gave up the quest. He had found no 
trace of either the shepherd or his flock. This 
troubled him a little. Hutch would not move 
the grazing grounds from that range unless 
there were good reasons for doing so. He was 
supposed to give notice of any change, though 
shepherds have the authority to change in 
emergencies. 

think I’ll go back to the camp and wait 
for him. My pony is tired. I’ll wait a few hours 
at least,” concluded Rod. 


192 THE RANGE AND GRANGE 


Returning to the camp, he tethered Jimmie 
among the trees back of the camp, then stretched 
out on the ground in the shade of the tent for 
an afternoon nap. 

Rogers awoke about four o ’clock. For a 
time he sat on the ground thinking, then he got 
up and strolled off to the eastward. He con- 
fessed to himself that he felt rather dull and 
stupid that afternoon, so he roused himself by 
running up and down, leaping small boulders 
and low greasewood bushes. 

A few moments of this and the Hustler was 
wide awake, his eyes were sparkling, his face 
was flushed and his step was springy again. 

‘ ‘ The only way to wake up, when one is asleep, 
is to wake up,” concluded Rogers. guess I 
might as well go back and put things in some 
sort of order in the tent, while I am waiting,” 
he said. don’t understand what has gotten 

into the giant. I ” 

Rod halted, straightening suddenly at the 
sound of a peculiar noise. 

^ ^ Whew — ew — ew — ew ! ’ ’ 

^^What was that?” demanded the lad. 

^ ^ Whew — ew — ew — ew — tchud ! ’ ’ 

^‘Bullets!” shouted the range rider, as the 
reports of a rifle reached him. ^^Some one is 
shooting this way and I am right in range of 
the fire. I guess it is time for me to move.” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 193 


Rod lost no time in shifting his position, 
laughing as he did so, for he was unafraid. 

‘‘That’s careless business. A man ought to 
be sure where his bullet is going before he pulls 
the trigger. That last one struck a rock back 
there. I guess neither of them came very far 
from me ” 

‘ ‘ Whew — ew — ew — ew ! ’ ’ 

“Hang it, I am in the range still,” cried Rod- 
ney, running off to the right. “Whoo — ee! 
Whoo — ee ! ” he yelled at the top of his voice to 
attract the attention of the shooter and warn 
him that some one was within range of the 
bullets. 

The answer was another “Whew — ew — 
ew — ew ! ’ ’ 

“Here you, stop that!” howled the lad. 

Another shot. 

“I believe he’s trying to shoot me!” ex~ 
claimed the lad, throwing himself flat on the 
ground, peering up over the mountain grass 
trying to make out where the shots were com- 
ing from. 

Rod could not see a human being anywhere. 
The sun was shining brightly, the peace of the 
mountain fastness was over all. But off there 
somewhere was a man trying to break the peace 
in a most unpleasant way. 

The range rider, after a moment, got up and 


13 


1 Range and Grange. 


194 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


with hand shading his eyes gazed off over the 
range. As he stood there another shot whizzed 
past him, this one going through the crown of 
the lad’s sombrero. Rod took off his hat, gazed 
at it with troubled eyes, then laughed as he 
clapped the hat back on his head. 

^‘My friend over there seems to he improving. 
If he keeps on he’ll reach something other than 
a hat. I shall have to move again. He has got- 
ten the range. I wish I could shoot as well.” 

Rod trotted hack to where the saddle pony 
was tethered. Taking his revolver from the sad- 
dle, he slipped it into his belt holster, then 
dodging behind the tent, peered around the end 
of it. Of course the tent afforded no protection 
from the bullets. It did, however, screen Rod- 
ney from the sight of his enemy. The lad was 
not frightened, but he experienced a queer feel- 
ing in his stomach, the like of which he never 
had felt before. To be shot at so unexpectedly, 
and by an enemy whom you cannot see, is not 
a pleasant experience for the bravest. Rodney 
Rogers was brave enough but he was young. 
Perhaps that was one of the reasons why he did 
not run away. He would not have run had he 
known he was going to be killed. As it was, he 
was in great danger of receiving a bullet from 
the rifle of the unseen enemy. 

The shooting continued at intervals. After 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 195 


a time the lad began to realize that the marks- 
man was not as far away as when he first be- 
gan shooting. 

‘‘He is after me/’ mattered the hoy. “He is 
creeping np on me. I must hide till I can get 
sight of him, then perhaps I shall take a hand 
in this gun business myself.” 

Rogers threw himself on the ground and be- 
gan crawling away. While he was doing this 
he was turning over in his mind the possibilities 
of the affair. The only person he could think 
of who might try to shoot him was the Indian 
chief, Johnnie Boy. That was about the way 
Johnnie Boy would fight, hut according to Mr. 
Woods, Johnnie had taken the trail for the reser- 
vation in Montana some two days before. 

“Still, it may be Johnnie, after all.” 

Rodney having, as he believed, gotten out of 
range of the bullets, halted, lying quietly and 
listening. The shooting had ceased. 

“He’s lost me,” chuckled the lad. “Maybe 
he will think he has hit me and show himself. 
That will he my chance.” 

Whew — ew — ew — ew — tchud ! ’ ’ 

“Oh, he’s found me again,” groaned the lad. 
“He’s going to get me if he can ” 

There came another shot, followed by a scream 
of pain. Rodney glanced behind him with a 
startled expression on his face. 


196 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


the pack pony! He^s shot the pack 
horse, the fiend! He’s a coward, or he would 
show himself. If I had a rifle I’d find him, for 
I think the shots are coming from that thicket 
of greasewood off there to the right. Were he 
further to the left his bullet would not have 
caught the packer.” 

Having made this discovery, Rogers wriggled 
further to the left, finally taking refuge behind 
a boulder. There he lay for some time, until 
finally the shooting having ceased, the boy 
peered out rather apprehensively. 

A bullet tore through the crown of his hat 
again. Rod drew back his head rather quickly. 

‘‘That’s some shooting, ehf” he grinned, ex- 
amining the hat. “And the company has 
charged me up three dollars for that hat. But 
it won’t matter much. I shan’t need it a great 
while longer, the way things look right now. ’ ’ 

Rod took another chance, peering around the 
other end of the rock, while he showed his hat 
on the side where it had been when the shot went 
through it. The ruse worked. Another bullet 
tore through the crown, which brought a chuckle 
of satisfaction from the range rider. Shot after 
.. shot followed, some reaching the hat, others 
^missing it. 

During this time the Hustler was using his 
eyes to good advantage. Now he distinctly saw 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 197 


a movement among the greasewood bushes 
whence he already had decided the shots were 
coming. 

With a craftiness that would have done an 
Indian credit Rodney elevated the hat on the end 
of a stick, then let it drop to the ground, where 
its rim was permitted to show above the grass. 
Three more shots were fired, one snipping the 
rim and turning the hat over. 

There, that ought to bring him out. I am 
surely dead now.’’ 

The boy, shielded by the grass on the side op- 
posite the hat, was peering toward the grease- 
wood without exposing himself in the least. 

He lay perfectly still, breathing as softly as 
he could, watching and waiting. 

The expected happened a few minutes later. 

A man’s head showed above the greasewood, 
then the shoulders appeared. The man stepped 
cautiously forward, with rifle held in both hands 
ready for a quick shot. 

The fellow was so far away that Rogers could 
not tell who or what he was, but Rodney hitched 
his belt around a little so as to free the holster 
on which he had been lying. The stranger came 
on slowly. All at once Rodney uttered an ex- 
clamation. g 

The boy sprang to his feet, waving his arms 
excitedly. 


198 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


‘^Hey, you, what are you trying to do! It’s 
Rogers, Rod Rogers. Put up your gu ” 

Whew — ew — ew — ew — ^bang ! 

The man had raised his rifle and let go with 
a quickness that was almost unbelievable. 

But Rodney Rogers had been quick, too. The 
lad had dropped to the ground without even 
lowering his arms. Something hit one arm. It 
seemed as if the arm had received a blow from 
a club. It made the Hustler grunt. The blow 
was followed by a stinging pain. 

I’m hit — ^worse luck!” groaned the lad. 

There was no time to give attention to his 
wound, which, however, he did not believe was 
at all serious. There were much more serious 
matters to reckon with at that moment, and Rod 
gave all his attention to trying to decide what 
he had better do. The young Hustler was facing 
the most difficult situation of his life and the 
most perilous as well. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 199 


CHAPTER XX 

ATTACKED BY A MADMAN 

T he man whom Rodney had seen emerge 
from the greasewood and who had been 
shooting at him was none other than the 
giant shepherd Hutch Harley. 

^ ‘ He must be mad ! ^ ’ breathed the range rider. 
Nothing else could lead him to try to murder 
me.’^ 

Rod realized that his position, at that moment, 
was critical. There was but one thing to do — 
to get away from the rock, for the shepherd 
would reach him in a very short time now. Har- 
ley was moving forward in long, swinging 
strides, with his rifle still held ready for in- 
stant use. While the shepherd was watching for 
a sight of the boy he could not give the same at- 
tention to Rod’s hiding place as he had given 
while lying in the bushes. 

This the boy realized and was quick to take 
advantage of it. He began wriggling away, 
keeping the rock between himself and his enemy. 
Rod broke all crawling records that day. Once 
he got on all fours, taking a long chance, and 
ran fully thirty yards, after which he flattened 
himself and resumed his creeping again. 


200 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


The perspiration was bursting from every 
pore of the young man’s body. He made the 
bush in safety and without drawing another shot 
from his enemy. Then he turned sharply to the 
right, and, dodging here and there, managed to 
reach a point about opposite where he had been 
hiding behind the rock. He was curious to know 
what Hutch was doing. He saw the shepherd 
approaching the rock with extreme caution. 
l\TLen the man discovered that his young prey 
had escaped him he uttered a roar of rage and 
began shelling the trees and bushes with his 
rifle. 

Eod ducked and remained out of sight until 
the firing had ceased. Now Harley began run- 
ning here and there, shouting, gesticulating, now 
and then firing a shot, though not in any instance 
in the right direction. 

Finally the mad shepherd whirled, fixing his 
eyes, as Eod thought, in his direction. As a 
matter of fact. Hutch had been attracted by 
something beyond the boulder where the boy was 
now hiding. Harley was gazing at a clump of 
bushes. A moment later the shepherd sent a 
shot into the bushes, then started on a trot 
toward them, firing occasionally as he ran. 

‘^Mad, mad, mad!” muttered the Hustler. 
^Hle doesn’t see me, but he will when he gets 
here, and then it will be all over with me in a 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 201 


minute. No it wonT! I’ve got to defend my- 
self. I can’t run now. It’s too late. I ought 
to have stayed in the bushes. I could have 
evaded him there. It’s too late for ifs now.” 

Rod reached down for his revolver. For 
the first time the lad^s face paled. The pistol 
holster was empty. 

^‘My revolver’s gone!” groaned the boy. ‘‘I 
must have dropped it when I was crawling 
away. ’ ’ 

Still Rodney had no thought of running away. 
His fighting blood was up. His courage had 
come down to him from a long line of fighting 
ancestors who had distinguished themselves in 
their country’s service. Yet he determined to 
risk his life for the sake of making one more 
appeal to the mad shepherd. 

The Hustler grabbed up a stone as he sprang 
to his feet. It was the only weapon at hand — 
not much of a weapon in the face of a rifle in 
the hands of a desperate lunatic who knew how 
to use it. 

Hutch, Hutch! Don’t you know meV^ 

Bang! 

Rod had ducked. The bullet screamed past 
his head. The lad was up again. 

^‘Stop it, Hutch. Stop, I want to tell you 
something. I ’ ’ 

Again the Hustler was obliged to flatten him- 


202 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


self to avoid tlie bullet that chipped the rock 
where the lad head had been but a second be- 
fore. 

A third time Rogers sought to quiet the rage 
of the mad shepherd, and a third time he nar- 
rowly escaped a bullet. After this third shot 
Rodney did a daring thing. He gathered him- 
self for a spring and leaped out into the open. 

Then with a movement so swift and so unex- 
pected that the shepherd’s next shot went wild, 
Rod hurled the stone with all the force that was 
in him. 

Without waiting to observe the result of his 
throw — for waiting under such circumstances 
was attended with some peril — Rogers dived 
head first for the protection of the rock. 

He heard the crash of the rifie, but not the 
ping of the bullet. The latter had gone high into 
the air. What caused the Hustler to flush, how- 
ever, was a yell from the mad shepherd. It 
was plainly a yell of pain. 

Rod sprang to his feet. He saw Hutch roll- 
ing on the ground in agony. The rock had landed 
fairly in the pit of the shepherd’s stomach. 

^H’ve got him!” yelled the boy in triumph. 

Rod leaped from the protection of the rock. 
He ran straight for the man on the ground. 
Hutch made a grab for his rifle, which now lay 
a few feet from him. But Rogers was too quick 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 203 


for the shepherd. He gained possession of the 
weapon then sprang back out of reach of the 
long arms. 

‘‘Hutch, Hutch! I’m sorry, but I had to do 
it. Look at me. You know me, don’t you? 
Now behave yourself. Lie down there until you 
feel better. I’m Rogers. You don’t want to 
shoot me, do you? Of course you don’t. I 
am your friend. I’m ” 

With a bellow of rage the giant shepherd rose 
unsteadily to his feet. 

“Sit down, sit down, I tell you!” commanded 
the boy. 

Harley staggered toward him, the shepherd’s 
eyes bloodshot and malignant, the fingers of both 
hands opening and closing spasmodically. 

It was a terrifying sight. Rod gave ground. 
Glancing behind him, to make sure that there 
was nothing over which he might stumble, he 
continued to back away. Hutch was in such 
pain that his face worked hideously. 

“Stop! I’ll have to shoot you if you come 
nearer,” warned the lad. “I don’t want to 
shoot my friend. Will you stop where you are. 
Hutch?” 

For answer the shepherd, gathering all his 
great strength, made a leap for the boy for 
whom he had suddenly conceived such a deadly 
hate. Rod was not taken by surprise. Neither 


204 THE KANGE AND GRANGE 


did he shoot. The boy was holding himself well 
in hand, wonderfully so under such trying cir- 
cumstances. 

Suddenly the barrel of the rifle described a 
quarter circle in the air. The barrel landed on 
the neck of the mad shepherd with a heavy 
thump. 

Hutch Harley collapsed in a heap. He went 
down as if his joints were telescoping together. 
Rod hesitated, with a half frightened look on 
his face, then sprang to the side of the man 
whom he had knocked senseless. 

^^Oh, I hope I haven T killed him,’’ cried the 
lad. hope I haven’t. I just had to do it. 
He would have killed me. No, he’s alive! He’s 
breathing. ’ ’ 

Rodney uttered a prayer of thankfulness. 
Then he sprang up. There was no time to lose. 
The man would recover consciousness in a lit- 
tle while he believed, and then there might he 
a different ending. The hoy thought deeply 
for a moment. Suddenly he turned, with rifle 
still in hand, running quickly toward the camp. 

Reaching the camp, he quickly cut the rope 
from the pack of the dead pony, running hack 
again and leaping every obstacle that appeared 
in his path. There was no time to dodge and 
run about them now. Any moment Harley 
might recover consciousness. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 205 


The shepherd was still unconscious when 
Rogers reached his side. The boy looked keenly 
into the face of the man, a face that now showed 
a pallor underneath the coat of tan. Rodney 
turned him over, and, twisting the man’s hands 
behind his back, tied them skilfully and securely. 
Rod’s knowledge of hitches came in very handy 
now. 

Next the lad turned his attention to the shep- 
herd’s feet, which he served in like manner, after 
which he rolled the man over on his back. 

.Rod sat down with the rifle across his lap, 
breathing a long sigh of relief. Still, the boy’s 
face was troubled. Though there had never 
been anything like friendship between the man 
and the boy. Rod’s heart was tender. He did 
not like to think that he had injured a human 
being. Yet he knew that had he not done so, 
he himself would have been killed. 

The sun ’s rays were level by this time. Hear- 
ing a bark. Rod looked up and saw Harley’s 
dog trotting across an open space on the range. 
The animal, when he saw Rod, galloped up, 
barking joyously, then after licking the lad’s 
hand turned to its master, sniffing him from 
head to foot. As he sniffed the dog began to 
growl, showing a dark streak all the way down 
his back. The growls grew louder and more 
menacing, finally ending in a yelp. 


206 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


Some strange emotion had been stirred in 
the faithful sheep dog at the condition of his 
mad master. 

‘ ‘ Back ! ^ ’ ordered the Hustler sharply. ^ ^ Come 
away from there, Coyote. Shame on you.^’ 

The dog hesitated, then slunk away with tail 
between its legs. Rod did not see the animal 
again until he found the dog hiding in the shep- 
herd ’s tent half an hour later. 

After a time Harley opened his eyes. At first 
he did not appear to see Rodney. After a while 
he fixed his glances on the hoy. The malignant 
look sprang into the shepherd’s eyes again. 
With a growl he sought to get up. He found 
himself unable to do so. 

Hutch uttered a roar of rage. He tugged and 
strained at his bonds until Rodney feared that 
he would burst them. The shepherd’s face grew 
red from his powerful efforts, the perspiration 
stood out on his face and neck in glistening 
drops. 

The boy gazed in awe at the mighty strength 
of the mad shepherd. He shivered a little as 
he thought of what would have happened to him 
had those arms once closed about him. 

<< There, there. Hutch, lie still. You can’t 
break the ropes. I’ve got you fast. If you 
did get loose I should have to fix you again, and 
I don’t want to do that. Now lie still and rest. 


HUSTLEES ON THE EANCH 207 


You will be all right after a time. How long 
have you been sickT^ 

There was no rej^ly to the question, but the 
words seemed to have had a quieting effecit on 
the madman, for he ceased his struggles and lay 
back regarding the boy steadily. 

‘A^ou know me, donT you. Hutch 

The shepherd nodded. 

‘‘Who am IV ^ 

“YouTe a ha^nt,^^ answered the shepherd 
after a moment of silence. “YouTe a ha^nt!’^ 
he screamed, resuming his violent struggles to 
free himself. 

“All right, I’m a ha’nt,” answered Rod, 
with a faint smile. “But what is a ha’nt? If 
I am a ha’nt I ought to know about it. Per- 
haps I can take something to cure me. What 
is a ha’nt!” 

“They’re up there,” looking toward the 
sky. “You’re a ha’nt. I seen you in the fog 
last night. I was layin’ for you.” 

“You mean I am some sort of ghost?*” ques- 
tioned Rodney. 

“Yes, you’re a ha’nt. I know you,” leered 
the man. “But you won’t git me. I’ll fool you. 
No ha’nt won’t git me.” 

“All right; you lie still. Yes, maybe I am 
a ha’nt, but this ha’nt isn’t going to get you 
if you will behave yourself. You lie perfectly 


208 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


quiet and you will find that I mean you no harm. 
Ha’nts can’t harm men, can they?” 

Harley leered. 

‘^You’re a ha’nt,” he persisted. 

Eogers thought that perhaps if he were to 
leave the madman alone for a time the fellow 
might grow quiet. He therefore walked away, 
the eyes of the shepherd following him with 
an expression such as Eod had first seen there 
when Hutch tried to spring upon him. 

^‘The question is, what can I do with him?” 
wondered Eogers, sitting down in front of the 
shepherd ’s tent. ^ ‘ If I leave him here tied up — 
and that’s the only thing I can do — he will die. 
No, I’ve got to think of some other plan and 
think quickly at that. I wish Glen were here 
to help me out. I shall need help; I need it 
this minute more than I have at any time in 
my life. There, he is struggling again with 
the ropes. If he gets loose I may have to shoot 
him to save my own life. To make sure I’ll 
put on some more rope.” 

This the Hustler did, despite the struggles 
of the madman to get a grip on him. After thus 
securing him, Eogers sat down to think. 

^H’ve got it! I know what I will do. It is 
the only way. I must not lose a minute, for 
the night is falling.” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 209 


CHAPTER XXI 

A THRILLING NIGHT RIDE 

MUST get him down to the settlement,’’ 

I decided the lad. ^^At least as far as the 
distributing station. There they can 
pick him up. But what will happen to the 
sheep in the meantime? Hutch, where are the 
sheep ? ’ ’ 

^^The ha’nts got the sheep,” mumbled the 
shepherd. 

Rod saw that it was useless to question 
Harley. Hutch was wholly insane. The boy’s 
plans were already made. He had no doubt of 
being able to carry them out, though fully 
aware of what was before him. He left the 
shepherd, after once more looking over the 
ropes that held the prisoner, and hastened away. 
First, he cut two strong saplings, then some 
smaller ones. From these he fashioned a horse 
litter that could be drawn by the pony, one 
end of the litter to be fastened over the neck 
of the animal, the other end dragging on the 
ground. 

This was something of a task, for Rogers 
had never seen anything of the sort except in 
pictures. He made the litter strong enough to 


/ 4 / Range and Grange. 


210 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


hold the shepherd. Of this he was confident. 
Leading Jimmie out, Rod fastened the litter 
to the pony and led the animal back and forth 
to see how the thing would draw. He found 
that it would require some changes to make it 
perfect. By the time Rod had corrected his 
mistakes of construction night was upon him. 
The moon was not yet up, nor would it be until 
about ten o’clock. 

Procuring his lantern, and at the same time 
getting a coil of the shepherd’s rope, Rogers 
led the pony up to the prisoner. 

‘‘Hutch, I am going to take you home where 
a doctor can see you. I hope you won’t make 
any fuss about it. I’ll get you there just the 
same, but it may take me longer if you fuss 
any. So take it easy. You won’t get hurt if 
you behave yourself. Whoa, Jimmie!” 

The pony was showing signs of restlessness. 
Rod soothed him, then began his task of load- 
ing the giant on the litter. This proved to be 
all that the Hustler had expected. Harley 
fought fiercely, despite his roped hands and 
feet. No sooner would Rod get him planted 
on the litter than the man would squirm off. 
Again and again, with infinite patience, with- 
out once losing his temper, did the Hustler get 
his burden where he wanted him, only to lose 
the man again. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 211 


Hutch, it’s too bad I’m so easy, isn’t it? 
If it weren’t for that I might hit you a clip 
over the head and put you to sleep until I got 
you on the litter. The fact that I don’t do so 
ought to show you that I am a friendly ha’nt 
at least.” 

Rogers regarded the prisoner keenly while 
getting his breath. 

know what I’ll do with you. I’ll put you 
in a straight jacket. Then we’ll see whether 
you ’ll cut up or not. ’ ’ 

The resourceful Hustler made another trip 
out into the timber, where he cut two stiff poles 
slightly longer than the body of the shepherd. 
These with three shorter pieces he lugged back. 
He first lashed the long pieces to Harley’s back, 
then roped the short pieces to them crosswise. 
He had to sit on the shepherd’s head while at- 
taching the headpiece of the crude splint, or 
straight jacket, as he called it. Rod tested the 
jacket by rolling his prisoner over and over. 
Hutch roared lustily, but that was all. He was 
powerless to resist. 

Rod then lifted his burden to the litter, drag- 
ging the man over by the shoulders. With 
ropes already in place, he lashed Hutch to the 
litter, binding the ropes over him from head to 
foot until Harley was swathed in them. 

Breathing heavily. Rod began making his 


212 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


preparations for leaving. First, he called the 
sheep dog to him. 

‘‘Coyote,’^ he said, want you to go watch 
the sheep. Understands^ 

Coyote wagged his tail knowingly. 

^‘Go watch the sheep! Go. on!’’ 

The dog wagged his tail again, then trotted 
off, disappearing from sight in a patch of sage. 
Rod waited a short while to make sure that 
the animal did not turn around and come back 
to the camp. 

don’t know him well enough to know 
whether he will do what I tell him. At any 
rate, I shall have to take the risk.” 

Lashing the shepherd’s rifle to the saddle, 
taking the lantern in one hand, the bridle rein 
in the other, Rodney Rogers started away on 
his thirty-mile hike to the distributing station 
of the live stock company. Before him lay 
steep and rugged mountain trails, some not 
worthy of the name of trails ; behind him a mad- 
man who at any minute might through some 
accident regain his freedom and attack the lad 
who was making such desperate efforts to save 
the shepherd’s life. 

None but a brave and resolute youngster 
could have passed successfully through what 
Rodney Rogers had already encountered, or 
mastered what was still before him. The 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 213 


Hustler, with a sharp word to his pony, started 
off at a trot. Jimmie was at first inclined to 
balk at the burden. Rod spoke to him sharply 
and after that there was no further trouble with 
the little animal. Now and then the Hustler 
would halt for a few moments to give the pony 
and himself a brief breathing spell and for time 
to examine the litter to make sure that it was 
holding well and that Hutch was secure. For- 
tunately the ropes held well and so did the lit- 
ter. Rod was rather proud of his workman- 
ship, though he gave little thought to his ac- 
complishment. There were too many other 
matters demanding his attention. 

Hour after hour slipped by, the pony and 
his master, with wonderful endurance, keeping 
up that steady trot, trot, trot, nearly always 
at the same pace, slowing down only when pass- 
ing over some part of the trail dangerous to 
litter and prisoner. 

Once the lad halted at a mountain stream 
to take a drink. He watered Jimmie out of 
his sombrero, holding the crown tight in his 
hand so the water would not run out through 
the bullet holes. He asked Hutch if he, too, 
would take a drink of water. The shepherd 
made no reply. Rod held the lantern up to 
Harley’s face to see if he were awake. Hutch 
was. The ugly look was still in his eyes. 


214 THE RANGE AND GRANGE 


‘‘DonT you tliink I am a pretty good lia'nt, 
Hutch? If I werenT, you wouldnT be here. 
Be good, we will soon be down in the canyon, 
where you will have proper care. ’ ^ 

Once more the journey was resumed. Rod’s 
feet were growing leaden, and his eyelids were 
weighted down until it required all the hoy’s 
strength to hold them up. Dark rings had 
formed under his eyes and his face was drawn 
and pinched. He looked years older. Rogers 
was subjecting himself to a strain that few men 
could stand up under, but he was young, and 
he was iron, in body as well as in will. 

Daylight came. Rodney scarcely saw that 
morning had arrived. He was still trudging 
on. Jimmie’s nose was lowered almost to the 
ground. The pony was well-nigh spent, but 
with the pluck of his kind he would never give 
up until he dropped. Neither would his mas- 
ter. 

As the sun rose and mounted higher and 
higher the progress of the outfit was slower. 
The pony lagged; so did Rogers, and it was 
close to eleven o’clock in the morning when the 
attendant at the distributing station saw the 
outfit stumbling down the mountain frail. He 
gazed in amazement. Rod staggered up to the 
storehouse. 

Hutch has gone crazy! Watch him!” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 215 


Rod stumbled into the building, groping for 
the telephone. He could hardly see. He called 
the office at Shelby. 

^Hs the captain inV’ he asked. 

^^No; he is out on one of the ranges,’’ an- 
swered the secretary, who had answered the 
telephone. 

^‘This is Rogers, range rider. Hutch Harley 
has gone crazy. Send a wagon out for him at 
once. I think he is in a bad way. I’ve got him 
here at the distributing station. Hurry! Don’t 
lose a minute. Tell Mr. Woods I’ll look after 
the sheep until he sends some one. Good-bye.” 

Rod staggered out into the open. 

^‘They’ll send for him. Keep away from the 
man. He is dangerous! Mind you, don’t go 
near him! Take care of Jimmie. I’ll help you 
get the litter off. Where’s your ponyl” 

^^He’s staked down over yonder. Don’t you 
see him ? ” 

Rod shook his head. 

can’t see very well this morning. I guess 
the sand man has gotten into my eyes, ’ ’ replied 
the lad, forcing a grin. Fetch the horse here. 
I want him. Be quick! There is no time to 
lose. If you’ll saddle him for me I’ll be much 
obliged. ’ ’ 

Wonderingly the storekeeper obeyed the di- 
rections of the range rider. While he was 


216 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


doing it Eod dropped down on tlie ground in a 
heap and went sound asleep instantly. The 
storekeeper shook him. His inclination was 
to let the lad sleep, but from previous dealings 
with Eodney Eogers he knew better than to do 
so. He knew that the range rider had impor- 
tant work to do, though he did not know what 
that work was. 

The Hustler got to his feet, swaying unstead- 
ily and brushing a sleeve across his eyes. 

‘‘Here’s the bronc. Do you want the gun 
aboard too!” 

“Yes, yes, of course. Help me up.” 

Once in the saddle Eod was all right. So 
long as the pony kept right side up the rider 
would stay in the saddle, asleep or awake. 

‘ ‘ Bye. Much obliged. ’ ’ 

“Where to!” questioned the store keeper. 

“Back to the range to look after Old Hutch’s 
sheep, ’ ’ answered Eodney Eogers, putting spurs 
to the pony, galloping into the canyon trail at 
a break-neck pace. 

Eod had not been gone long before a wagon 
from the town came rumbling up to the dis- 
tributing station, accompanied by three men. 
They loaded Harley in, then started for town 
at top speed. There a doctor was awaiting 
them. Harley was released, and when freed 


HUSTLEES ON THE RANCH 217 


he nearly cleared out the place before being 
subdued. He would have done so had not a 
cowboy spectator roped and thrown him. 

So tightly had Rogers tied the man shepherd, 
that the man’s circulation had been pretty well 
shut off. A few hours more, and the doctor 
said he would have been dead. Then again 
Hutch surely would have died if left on the 
range. Captain Woods did not return until 
late in the afternoon. 

When he heard such details of the story as 
the story as the men and storekeeper were able 
to tell him, Tom Neville was summoned in- 
stantly. 


218 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


CHAPTER XXn 

SENDING A BELIEF PAKTY 

Unheard of! Never came 

I J up with anything like it in all my ex- 
perience/^ muttered Captain Woods 
as he paced hack and forth in his office wait- 
ing for his general foreman, who was even then 
galloping toward Shelby as fast as his pony 
could travel. ^^Did Rogers give you any par- 
ticulars?’^ asked the stockman, turning to his 
secretary. 

‘ ‘ No, sir, nothing more than I have told you. 
He must have been pretty well done up, for he 
could hardly talk, sir.” 

The owner of the Silver Bow resumed his 
pacing. Within half an hour from that time, 
Neville booted and spurred, his face red from 
the beat of the wind upon it from his fast ride, 
strode into the office. 

Captain Woods quickly acquainted the fore- 
man with such facts as were in his possession 
regarding Rodney and the mad shepherd. Nev- 
ille listened, his face showing the amazement 
he felt. 

^^He is violent, you say?” 

^‘Raving.” 


HUSTLEES ON THE EANCH 219 


^‘And the boy tied Hutch up, bringing him 

inr^ 

‘‘Yes/' 

“He couldn't do it in a thousand years," de- 
clared Tom, with emphasis. “Why it would 
take half a dozen men to handle Old Hutch 
when in his right mind. Those shepherds, 
when they go crazy, have twice their ordinary 
strength. The thing's impossible, Captain." 

‘ ‘ It was done. I do not profess to know how 
it was done, but we have exhibit A — ^Hutch 
himself. The doctor says the boy's prompt ac- 
tion has no doubt saved the man's life. The 
doctor thinks Hutch will pull through and come 
out all right yet." 

“Who is taking care of Hutch's flock!" 

“Kogers is. He borrowed a fresh pony and 
started back for the range at a terrific clip, so 
the storekeeper says. That makes me think 
there must be something wrong at the range, 
or else the boy feared something might break 
loose there. You'll probably find we have lost 
some stock.' We are in luck if half the flock 
isn't lost or killed by this time. That young 
man is a wonder, Tom." 

“I guess you're right, sir," agreed the fore- 
man. 

“W"e can't let Rogers stay there. He must 
be pretty well knocked out. Whom have you 


220 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


that you can send up to take care of the sheep 
in Harley ^s placed’ 

^^No one just now/’ 

^^Then find some one. That boy will stick to 
the job till he’s dead if we don’t relieve him.” 

might send Vankirk. He isn’t much 
good. I don ’t like to trust him with the flock. ’ ’ 

^ ‘ There may he no flock by this time, ’ ’ warned 
Captain Woods, with a harsh laugh. There 
is no telling what Hutch may have done in his 
madness. As I said before, there must have 
been something wrong there to have sent 
Eogers tearing back, and half dead at that.” 

‘^Thirty miles isn’t such a killing ride,” ob- 
served Neville. 

^^Eide!” exploded the owner of the Silver 
Bow. 

^Wes. We have all done it time and time 
again. ’ ’ 

‘‘Tom, the boy didn’t ride. The storekeeper 
says Eogers footed it all the way — ran all night 
long, dragging the pony and litter after him 
for the whole thirty miles. By Jove, man, you’d 
be dead if you had done a quarter of that. ’ ’ 

Tom Neville uttered a long-drawn whistle. 

“I should say so.” 

“Where is Vankirk now?” 

“I saw him down at the post-office when I 
rode in.” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 221 


‘‘Then get him at once and start for the 
range. It will be after dark when you get 
there, but that makes no difference. You are 
used to night riding. Bring the boy back with 
you. He may need some attention, and he may 
be hurt for all we know. He wouldnT say any- 
thing about it if he were, provided he were able 
to wiggle. DonT lose a minute, Tom.’’ 

“I’ll get right on the job, sir,” answered the 
foreman, now thoroughly aroused by what the 
rancher had told him. 

Neville hurried out. He found his man Van- 
kirk. The latter had had some experience with 
sheep, but at that time he was a laborer on one 
of the ranches. The foreman ordered Vankirk 
to get ready and accompany him at once. A 
few minutes later the two men were galloping 
away up the canyon, Vankirk telling the fore- 
man how bad Old Hutch was. 

The foreman listened, but made few com- 
ments. He was thinking and wondering how 
young Rogers ever had managed to convey the 
crazy shepherd from the range to the station. 

The men, familiar with every trail in those 
ranges, had no difficulty in finding their way 
over the mountains in darkness as well as day- 
light. They rode steadily but hard, giving their 
ponies a terrific grilling. 

It was ten o’clock in the evening when they 


222 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


rode up to tlie tent of Old Hutcli. The tent 
was dark. There was no fire in the stove. 
Neville examined the place carefully. 

‘^No one has been in here in many hours. I 
doubt if the boy is on the range/’ announced 
the foreman. We ’ll go out and see if we can 
find the sheep.” 

^‘Do you know where they bed, Torn!” 

know where they ought to bed. That’s 
no sign they’ll he there. You take the right- 
hand trail and I’ll take the left. If you find 
’em let out a yell.” 

^‘All right. I’m off.” 

The men separated and began riding over the 
range, but traveling more slowly than when 
they had been crossing the mountains, so that 
they might not pass the sheep without seeing 
them. Neville rode straight to the old bedding 
ground. There were no sheep there, 
thought so,” he grumbled. 

The distant bark of a dog attracted his at- 
tention. Tom put spurs to his horse, gallop- 
ing off in the direction of the bark. After half 
an hour’s riding he heard the dog bark again. 
This time the bark was close at hand and a 
few minutes later Coyote came running to meet 
him. 

^^Good boy. Coyote. Where’s the flock?” de- 
manded the foreman. 


HUSTLEES ON THE RANCH 223 


As if he understood, and perhaps he did, the 
sheep dog turned, running on ahead, now and 
then glancing back over his shoulder, uttering 
a yelp of satisfaction. Finally he halted, turned, 
giving a short, sharp hark as much as to say, 
^‘Here they are, master.’^ 

Neville made out the flock peacefully sleep- 
ing in the shadows of some tall spruces, about 
which the sheep were bunched. But there was 
no sign of Rodney Rogers. The foreman ut- 
tered a long-drawn ‘^coo — ee — ee,^^ which was 
answered by Vankirk after a brief interval. 
After a time the foreman repeated the call to 
guide his man to him. 

‘^Are they all hereF’ asked Yankirk, riding 
up at a gallop. 

‘‘No, they are not. I canT say how many are 
missing, but there are two blacks and a bell 
gone. There may be a hundred missing and 
there may be more. We canT tell much about 
that until morning. I should like to know where 
Rod is. You didn’t see anything, did you!” 

“Nary a thing. What are you going to do 
about it?” 

“I’m going to ride for a time to see if I can’t 
get some trace of the boy. That’s the prin- 
cipal thing now. The missing sheep have un- 
doubtedly been gobbled up by coyotes or moun- 
tain lions. No use looking for them ” 


224 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


Maybe the dog knows ’’ 

‘^Possibly, but the dog isn’t saying,” replied 
the foreman dryly. ^Ht looks to me, however, 
as if Coyote had been ordered to stay here with 
the sheep. That may mean something and it 
may not.” 

^^You mean about the kidf” 

‘A^es.” 

‘^He may have given the dog orders before 
starting for the settlement,” suggested Van- 
kirk. 

understand that. You look after these 
sheep. If anything turns up, yell. If I don’t 
answer move away from the flock and fire your 
revolver three times,” directed the foreman, 
after which he rode away. Upon second 
thought, he whistled to the sheep dog to go with 
him. Both disappeared in the night. 

Neville began traveling in ever widening 
circles. He was looking for ^^sign,” as the 
mountaineers call it. Had it been daylight he 
might have picked up the trail of the sheep, 
but it was next to impossible to do so in the 
night, even though the moon was now coming 
up. The foreman continued his search until 
nearly three o’clock in the morning, when he 
reluctantly turned his horse toward the camp, 
arriving there an hour later. Daylight would 
soon be upon them. Neville decided to lie down 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 225 


for a brief sleep, which he did, not waking un- 
til seven o^clock in the morning. The foreman 
hurried out to the grazing grounds. Vankirk 
reported that nothing had occurred during the 
night. 

^‘1^11 get some breakfast, then I’ll take a 
fresh start. You look after the sheep. Have 
you any idea how many are missing!” 

‘‘According to my count there’s a hundred 
of them missing. Of course I don’t know how 
many Old Hutch lost before he went batty. Did 
you see the pony!” 

“The pony? No. What do you mean!” 

“There’s a dead pony just back of the camp. 
I reckon it was the pack pony.” 

“You don’t say!” 

“Yes, he’s been shot.” 

Neville hurried back to the camp. An ex- 
amination told him that there had been a battle 
in that vicinity. He found numerous evidences 
of this, including the places on the rocks, 
chipped by Hutch’s bullets. 

“That’s where the boy lay while Hutch was 
shooting at him, ’ ’ decided the foreman. ‘ ‘ W ell, 
if that doesn’t beat all!” 

Neville went over the ground carefully, form- 
ing in his own mind a fairly clear idea of what 
had taken place. There was a look of wonder- 
ment on the face of the foreman as he walked 

/ S / Range and Grange, 


226 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


over to tlie spot where his own pony was teth- 
ered. He saddled and bridled the animal, lead- 
ing the horse over to the tent. Then Neville 
set about getting his breakfast. This was not 
a long process. He was too much disturbed in 
mind to care about a hearty meal. The meal 
was soon finished, after which the foreman, 
leaving the dishes as they were, mounted his 
pony and rode off across the range. 

On the way out he stopped for a few moments 
talk with Vankirk. 

‘H’ll be out all day if I donT come up with 
them in the meantime, Vankirk. You know 
what you’re to do. Same signals as last night. 
I must find that boy if he is on the range. He 
may be back there in one of the canyons, but I 
don’t think so. He has too much pluck to give 
up after all he’s been through. He must have 
had a whale of a time with crazy Hutch plug- 
ging away at him with the rifle. I guess the 
men won’t be calling Eogers a tenderfoot after 
this, eh?” 

Vankirk shook his head, but said nothing. 

Neville touched the pony’s side with the spur. 
The pony started with a jolt. The foreman, 
before he had gone fifty yards, brought the ani- 
mal down almost to his haunches, shading his 
eyes and gazing off across the range. 

‘‘What do you see?” shouted Vankirk, 



A Horseman Appeared On the Eise of Ground. 



HUSTLEES ON THE RANCH 229 


Sheep,’’ answered the foreman sharply. 

^ ^ Sheep 1 ’ ’ 

Vankirk sprang up, looking in the same direc- 
tion in which his foreman was gazing. 

A bnnch of sheep were straggling slowly 
along, having just appeared over a rise of 
ground about half a mile to the eastward. Fol- 
lowing them, a few minutes later, came a thin 
line of other stragglers. Neville’s keen eyes 
noted that the sheep were weary. He decided 
at once that they had journeyed a long way. 

A moment later a horseman appeared on the 
rise coming along slowly, his pony’s nose close 
to the ground. The horseman did not appear 
to have observed Neville and his shepherd. 

^ ^ That ’s the boy, ’ ’ nodded the foreman, 
guess it is,” agreed Vankirk. 

Neville rode forward to meet the approach- 
ing outfit. Now Rodney saw him. The lad 
waved a feeble hand. 

^ ^ The little ranger is all in, ’ ’ growled Neville. 
‘^He sure is.” 

The smaller bunch of sheep, now discovering 
the main flock, started on a run to join them, 
with bleats of joy. Rod, seeing that all was 
well, headed for Tom. 

‘‘How are you, boy?” shouted Neville when 
within hailing distance. 

— I guess I’m all right,” answered Rodney. 


230 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


guess not. You surely donT look it. Come 
right over to the camp. ^ ’ 

Rodney turned his pony. 

^^All — all right/ ^ he answered. Suddenly the 
lad began to sway in his saddle, then with a moan 
he toppled off to the ground, one foot still fast 
in the stirrup. 


HUSTLEKS ON THE EANCH 231 


CHAPTER XXIII 

EEAPING HIS REWARD 

N eville sprang from his pony. For- 
tunately Rod’s mount was too weary to 
run away. The foreman rescued the 
lad from his perilous position, then taking him 
on the saddle of his own horse, Neville galloped 
for the camp, followed by Vankirk. 

guess he must be hungry,” suggested the 
shepherd. 

^‘Hungry! He’s dead beat, that’s what’s the 
matter. Here’s blood, too. He is worse off than 
we thought! Fetch water! Be quick about it,, 
too!” 

Rod soon recovered from his swoon, but he 
was so weak that he could barely speak. The 
foreman quickly prepared some broth, then he 
turned his attention to the wounded arm through 
which the mad shepherd’s bullet had plowed a 
furrow. Fortunately the bone had not been 
touched. The wound was dressed and bandaged. 
After Rod had eaten a little broth, Neville tucked 
him into the blankets with orders to go to sleep. 

The Hustler did not need the advice. He fell 
into a deep sleep from which he did not awaken 
until late at night. During that time he was 


232 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


watched by the foreman, who never allowed him- 
self to get far from the tent. 

At ten o’clock that night Rod awakened and 
sat np, rubbing his head wearily. Then he un- 
steadily rose to his feet. 

^‘Well, what now?” 

must be going. I have lost too much time 
already. ’ ’ 

‘^You’ll do nothing of the sort,” snorted Ne- 
ville. ‘^You’ll go to bed and stay there until I 
tell you to get up. I guess the company can af- 
ford it. You certainly can.” 

‘‘But the supplies — the shepherds need them,” 
protested Rod. 

“The Captain has attended to all of that. 
He’s going to have Stevens cover your route 
until you get on the job again.” 

Neville noted that the face of the Hustler was 
flushed. He placed a hand on Rod’s cheek. It 
was burning hot. 

“Get back into those blankets.” 

Rod did so ; or, rather, he fell back. He was 
too weak to hold himself up long. Tom made 
him as comfortable as possible, but there was 
not very much that he could do. 

All night long Neville watched the lad with 
troubled eyes. Rod talked in his sleep, he 
tossed about on his blankets, the flush on his 
cheeks growing deeper and deeper. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 233 


Fever, and a lot of it at that,’^ growled the 
foreman. Don’t wonder. Wonder is that he 
isn’t dead. He will be unless something’s done 
for him. I wish I had him down at Shelby, but 
I wouldn ’t dare take him. ’ ’ 

Toward morning the foreman went out to the 
bedding ground, where he found Vankirk asleep 
on the ground in his blankets. Tom awakened 
the shepherd. 

‘‘What is it?” demanded Vankirk sleepily. 

“I want you to hike for Shelby.” 

“What for?” 

“Get the Doc. Fetch him up here a whoop- 
ing, if you kill all the horse flesh on the range 
doing it. Don’t you dare stop till you’ve landed 
the Doc right on this outfit. ’ ’ 

“Why not wait till morning ” 

“Wait for nothing. You get ready as fast 
as ever you can, and don’t wait to comb your 
hair, either. ’ ’ 

“Is the kid so bad as all that?” 

“Worse. He’s madder than Old Hutch and 
a good deal worse off.” 

“V^at is it?” 

“Bullet, for one thing — and some others,” 
added Tom dryly. “You git!” 

“All right. What shall I tell the Doc?” 

“Don’t wait to tell him anything. Catch him 
by the scruff of the neck and haul him up here 


234 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


a whooping. Have him bring along his medicine 
case and his instmments. Leave word for the 
Captain that Rogers is here all right, but badly 
off. Can yon make it in five honrsT’^ 
might, but it may kill the pony.^^ 

Don’t care if it does, bnt don’t kill him till 
you get there. When yon reach the station yon 
might telephone. It will save some time, I guess. 
Order a fresh horse, two of them if yon want. 
Yon know what to do without my having to tell 
yon all about it. ’ ’ 

‘^Who’ll take care of the sheep f” 

Never mind the sheep, never mind any- 
thing!” exploded Neville. ‘Won talk too much. 
Get going ! ’ ’ 

Vankirk began to realize that the need for 
haste must be great. He had never seen Tom 
Neville so near to being excited. The shepherd 
hurriedly saddled and bridled his pony. By the 
time he was ready the foreman had brought 
provisions so that the rider might not go hungry 
on the way. 

Vankirk swung into the saddle. 

“Now git!” shouted Neville, giving the horse 
a sharp slap on the fiank. At the same time Van- 
kirk dug in the spurs and was otf at a reckless 
pace, while Tom stood watching until horse and 
rider were out of sight. 

“I hope he gets the Doc here in time,” mut- 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 235 


tered the foreman. ^^The kid is worse otf than 
he ought to be, and all on account of that crazy 
Hutch. I told the Captain a month ago that 
Hutch was going to ‘get them.^ He’s like all 
the rest of the shepherds. They all go crazy 
if they keep at the business long enough. I 
don’t know as I blame them much. It’s a kill- 
ing game.” 

Neville took a long look at the sheep before 
returning to the tent, then leaving the dog. 
Coyote, in charge, went back to his patient. By 
the time the foreman reached the tent Rodney 
was delirious. 

“Plumb locoed (crazy),” growled Tom. “I 
reckon I’ll have to take a hitch on him if he gets 
much worse.” 

Neville did not exactly have to tie his patient. 
By the time day broke, however, the foreman 
was forced to hold the boy down at times. Rod 
in his delirium was living over again the thrill- 
ing experiences through which he had passed, 
and from the boy’s broken sentences Tom 
learned more of what had occurred. 

Late in the forenoon the company’s surgeon 
reached the camp together with a man sent by 
Captain Woods to look after the flock, for Van- 
kirk was not able to take the return ride. 

Neville grunted when this word was conveyed 
to him. 


236 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


‘ ‘ Eank tenderfoot ! ’ ’ he said. ‘ ^ Now get busy 
with that kid, Doc. ’ ’ 

The doctor did. First he made a careful ex- 
amination, finally devoting his attention to the 
wound in the arm. Taking off the bandages, he 
held the arm up for the foreman’s observation. 
The arm was swelled to fully twice its natural 
size. Tom scowled. 

^^What about it?” 

‘Ht may have to come off.” 

‘‘Not much it won’t, not while Tom Neville’s 
about. What would the kid do with only one 
arm hanging to him?” 

“We may have to amputate it to save his 
life.” 

“Might better die, then. If you know what^s 
good for you, you’ll get him out of this and with 
both arms fast to his plucky little body, at that. 
You hear me?” 

The surgeon smiled, then set to work in earn- 
est to attend to his patient. Eod did not seem 
to improve. Later in the day a man came in 
from the settlement with some fresh meat, some 
poultry and delicacies which Captain Woods had 
sent to the range for the sick boy, and with the 
command that he be fully informed as to the 
condition of his little range rider. The word 
returned to him was far from reassuring. 

On the following morning the owner of the 


HUSTLEES ON THE EANCH 237 


Silver Bow Eanch took to the trail himself. He 
arrived at the camp that night. Eodney was 
still delirious. 

From Neville, Captain Woods learned much 
that he had not known regarding Kod’s ex- 
periences. 

Can’t you get him to town safely, doctor?” 
asked the owner. 

‘ ^ No, it might finish him. ’ ’ 

‘‘Then we must make things comfortable for 
him here. I’ll send up whatever you want.” 

“I want another tent, plenty of supplies, more 
blankets and a nurse. He is in for a long siege 
of it, I fear.” 

“I’ll send them. I can’t afford to lose that 
boy. I’ll tell you what I’ll do; I’ll send his 
chum up.” 

“Send someone who knows his business; I 
don ’t care who it is. It will probably be a mat- 
ter of weeks before he is on his feet again, even 
if he gets there at all.” 

The Captain took the trail for home that night. 
He was deeply concerned over the condition of 
Eodney, for he had grown to feel a genuine 
affection for the lad who had served him so 
faithfully. 

Three days passed and the turning point in 
the lad’s illness had not yet been reached. Cap- 
tain Woods determined to fetch the boy to town. 


238 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


A conference with the company’s doctor resulted 
in plans being made to carry young Eogers down 
to Shelby. A litter was constructed, this one 
being so made that two horses were required to 
carry it. It was a very comfortable affair when 
finished, but no better made than Eod’s even 
though he had never seen anything of its kind. 

By this time the lad was delirious only by 
spells. The fever worried the doctor, however. 
On the second morning after they had gotten 
the young ranger safely to Shelby, Mrs. Eogers 
arrived on an early train. Captain Woods had 
shrewdly suspected that a mother’s care was 
what the young man needed as much as any- 
thing else. Glen had in the meantime been de- 
voted to his chum, scarcely leaving the bedside 
of the sick boy, except to eat his meals. 

Eodney was asleep when his mother arrived. 
Shortly after she had entered the room the lad 
began to show signs of restlessness. A few min- 
utes later he opened his eyes suddenly and looked 
up into Mrs. Eogers ’s face. 

Hello, mother,” said Eod, smiling faintly. 
‘Hs if as — as bad as that?” 

Captain Woods, who had accompanied the 
mother to the sick room, came forward at this 
juncture. 

Don’t be alarmed, my lad. It is not so bad 
as that. We ” 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 239 


I am not afraid. DonT think I am ’’ 

‘‘No, you have shown that you are not afraid 
of anything. As I was saying, we thought your 
mother might be able to nurse you better than 
we men could. I shall expect you to be up and 
about in a few days from now.^’ 

Mrs. Rogers was kissing the hot cheek of the 
little range rider and the Captain discreetly 
withdrew. 

“I — ^measured up to it, mother, whispered 
Rod. “I — didn’t show the white feather. If 
I shouldn’t get out of it, you’ll know I was a 
sticker.^’ 

Mrs. Rogers did not give way to tears. She 
was not from a crying stock. Instead she 
laughed brightly as she disengaged herself from 
the boy’s arms. 

“I know that, my son. I have always known 
it. We will make a business of getting you 
well from now on.” 

“Did the Captain send for you?” 

“Yes; he thought I ought to know that you 
were ill. I came right along. I had no difficulty 
in getting away. Besides, I have wanted a va- 
cation for some time.” 

“You’re going to have a long one pretty soon. 
Things are looking up with me, mother.” 

Rod’s voice was growing weaker and his 
cheeks redder. 


240 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


‘‘Not another word now. If yon speak to me 
again within the next hour unless it is to ask 
for something, I shall leave the room.’’ 

That night the delirium returned, but it did 
not last as long as usual. Mrs. Rogers had talked j 
with Glen during the evening and from him had i 
learned what he knew about the cause of y 
Rogers ’ illness. y 

Glen would not leave her that night, so both , 
sat in an adjoining room in the boarding house 
where the lads had their quarters, making fre- 
quent visits to the sick room. Nothing had been 
left undone by Captain Woods that would add to 
the lad’s comfort. He even wished to send to 
the city for a trained nurse, but the doctor said 
the boy’s mother would be best for him. 

After two anxious days and nights Rodney’s 
fever broke. The swelling and inflammation be- , 
gan to leave the arm and the doctor breathed a J 
sigh of relief, as did the others who were in- 
timately interested. Still, Rodney was a very 1 
sick boy. That he had not lost his arm was a 
miracle. After another week in bed he was al- 
lowed to sit up, surrounded by pillows. 

Captain Woods on his regular visit to the sick ■ 
room found the boy thus. 

“Well, well, I thought the mother hand would ■ 
work the magic cure,” said the owner of the 
Silver Bow. i 


HUSTLEES ON THE EANCH 241 


is going to be all right now, Captain 
Woods,’’ nodded Mrs. Eogers, with a smile. 

^Ht’s mother who has done it,” added Eod, 
following Mrs. Eogers with worshiping eyes. 

never thought I would be such a baby as 
this. I am ashamed of myself.’^ 

‘‘That’s right, young man; scold yourself. 
It will do you good. Do you feel strong enough 
to talk?” 

Eod looked at his mother. 

“It will not harm him,” she said. “Eodney 
said he wished to talk to you when we would 
let him.” 

“I’m sorry we had to lose any of them, Cap- 
tain Woods,” said the lad, turning to the 
rancher. “I mean the sheep.” 

The Captain laughed. 

“I would rather have lost the whole flock than 
to have had anything happen to you. Had I 
been at home when you came in with Harley^ 
you never would have been permitted to take 
the ride back to the range in your condition. 
You ought to have had better sense.” 

“I knew the sheep were in danger, sir. It was 
my duty to do what I could to protect your prop- 
erty. But the coyotes got a few of them. I shot 
two lambs to put them out of their misery, but 
I’d rather have shot the cowardly coyotes. How 
many did you lose?” 


i6 / Range and Grange, 


■242 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 

^ ^ Only fifteen, according to onr count. You no 
doubt saved a good part of the flock. Were there 
there many coyotes about when you got back!’’ 

‘Ht seemed to me that there were more 
coyotes than sheep. I used up all of Hutch’s 
cartridges shooting at them, then I chased them 
otf with the pony and the revolver. I guess 
they were pretty well scared. I must have hit 
some, for they didn ’t come back. ’ ’ 

^‘We have not heard the full story of your 
experiences, Rodney. If you feel equal to the 
task I should like to hear about them. ’ ’ 

“Is — ^is Harley ” 

“He is doing very well. It is probable that 
he will get over his crazy fit, but we shall never 
put him on the range again. It would not be 
safe. Now, let’s hear your story.” 

Rodney related it, making as little of his own 
achievements as was possible, but they were able 
to read between the lines and supply the details 
lacking in his description. Despite the little 
range rider’s modesty it was a thrilling tale 
that he told. 

The reader already is familiar with the early 
part of the experiences of that trying day and 
night. Of the ride back to the range. Rod did 
not remember very much. The same might be 
said of his war on thej^oyotes that had gotten 
into the flock, and of his long hunt for the scat- 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 24a 


tered bunches of sheep which he had safely 
rounded up and driven hack to the bedding 
ground, holding himself together despite his. 
great weariness and his aching arm which the 
bullet of the mad shepherd had grazed. 

Mrs. Rogerses eyes were shining when Rod- 
ney, having finished, asked for a glass of water. 
Captain Woods got it for him, the while tugging 
nervously at his mustache. 

^‘Upon my — my word, I never heard anything^ 
like it!’’ he declared in a blustering voice. 

Never !’^ 

^ ^ My brave boy, ’ ’ whispered the woman, when 
the back of the rancher was turned toward her. 

‘‘You ought to have seen me when I was hid- 
ing from the shepherd then, if you think me 
brave,” answered the lad. 

“I was about to say, Rogers, that you have 
saved me a great deal of money. At least a 
thousand dollars, and goodness knows how much 
more by your bravery. Had you not returned 
at once to the range you can imagine what we 
should have found there on the following day.” 

“Yes ; I thought the flock would be pretty well 
destroyed, ’ ’ agreed Rodney, but not in a boast- 
ful tone. “That is why I was in such a hurry 
to get back. I was afraid if I waited for you 
I should be making a great mistake.” 

“However, I would much rather have lost the: 


244 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


flock than to have this happen to you. I mean 
it.^^ 

‘^Things had already happened to me at that 
time. The real damage had been done by Hutch 
some time before that. Had I not lost so much 
blood from my wound, I do not think I should 
have given out. Then during all that time the 
dust became ground into it and I had to get blood 
poisoning. Silly thing to do, wasnT it?” 

‘ ‘ I agree with you thoroughly. In view of all 
the facts, I am going to reward you when you 
are well again. For the present I will let mat- 
ters rest where they are. ’ ’ 

Mrs. Rogers accompanied the rancher to the 
door. He handed her a sealed envelope. 

‘^Here,” he said, ‘Gs something for Rodney. 
I would suggest that you put it in the bank for 
him. If I offer it to him he will not take it. ’ ^ 
don’t think I should do so either, in that 
ease, ’ ’ smiled the woman. 

^‘You will offend me greatly if you do not.” 

‘^Then under the circumstances I will do as 
you request, though I am sure Rodney would 
disapprove. ’ ’ 

The envelope contained a check made out to 
Rodney Rogers for two hundred dollars. It was 
not until a long time after that that Rodney 
learned of the reward that had been given to 
liim for his heroic services. 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 245 


CHAPTER XXIV 

CONCLUSION 

T he recovery of the young Hustler was^ 
slow, but steady. It was a week after 
the incidents recited in the previous 
chapter ere he was permitted to leave his bed. 
Then followed a long period of convalescence 
until at last the boy was out again. 

The second time he went out he called at the 
office of the owner of the Silver Bow to thank 
Captain Woods for all that he had done for him.. 

^^I have been thinking, said the rancher, 
^Hhat it might be a good idea for you to go 
home with your mother. You need a rest.^’ 
Thank you, sir, but I couldnT think of it. 
I have lost too much time already. I want to 
go to work as soon as possible. I have been 
trying to get mother to stay here with me, but 
she thinks she will return home as soon as I am 
fit to leave by myself. You see she doesnT trust 
me. She thinks 141 be imprudent. She doesn’t 
know that the ranges will put me in shape again 
in no time at all.” 

‘^Do not be in too much of a hurry, Rodney. 
Rest for a week or two more, then we will talk 
matters over.” 


246 THE EANGE AND GRANGE 


Rodney accepted tlie suggestion rather un- 
willingly. From that time on he gained strength 
every day. It occurred to him that he would 
like to show his mother the beauties of the 
mountains, so he induced her to take up riding. 
In other days Mrs. Rogers had been an excellent 
horsewoman. It all came back to her very 
quickly with a little practice, and as soon as 
Rodney was strong enough they packed their 
belongings and started out for a long jaunt on 
horseback over the Divide, camping out nights 
in the glorious air of the Rockies, living close 
to Nature. 

The Hustler grew strong very rapidly and his 
mother more youthful with the passing days. 

On their last night on the range Rod again 
referred to the subject uppermost in his mind. 
He urged his mother to give up her work and 
come down to live with him. 

^‘Rodney, it isn’t best,” said Mrs. Rogers. 
^‘What money you are earning now will be 
needed by you later on when you start out for 
yourself, for I take it that is what you are plan- 
ning to do.” 

The boy nodded thoughtfully. 

that is my plan, but not yet.” 

^ ^ Just so. Let me remain where I am. I have 
had a splendid holiday despite the fact that my 
mission here was not as pleasant as I could 


HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH 247 


have wished. I shall return to my work re- 
freshed and you will go on with yours. Per- 
haps in another year or so we shall be together 
again. ’ ^ 

^‘You mean you think you will interfere with 
my career by being with me?’’ questioned the 
boy shrewdly. 

‘ AVell, yes, now that you have asked the ques- 
tion. ’ ’ 

^ ^Nonsense ! If that were true I should rather 
give up the career,” laughed Rod. 

^‘In spite of the ‘call’?” laughed his mother. 

“In spite of the call, mother.” 

But Mrs. Rogers was firm and Rodney swal- 
lowed his disappointment. A few days later 
she was ready to go. Together, mother and son 
went to the office of the owner of the Silver Bow 
to thank him for his kindness and Mrs. Rogers 
to say good-bye. Rodney was to go back to 
work on the following Monday. 

Captain Woods, after asking them to sit down, 
sorted out the papers on his desk, finally select- 
ing one which he looked over carefully. 

“Rod, what I have to say I wish to say in 
the presence of your mother. It will perhaps 
show her as well as yourself my deep apprecia- 
tion of your efforts in my behalf. I am going 
to change your work. What would you like to 
do?” 


248 THE EANGE AND GEANGE 


sliould like to put in a season as a shep- 
herd/ ' answered the lad promptly. 

‘^Not afraid you will go crazy over it, are 
you?’^ smiled the rancher. 

^‘Not at all, sir. I want the experience.’’ 

^ ‘ Then you shall have it. I already have de- 
cided to appoint Stevens to one of the ranges. 
He is well worth it. In your case I am going 
to do even better. ’ ’ 

The eyes of the Hustler sparkled. 

am going to put you on the pay roll as 
receiving the usual pay of the sheep herder — 
fifty dollars a month. In addition to this, when 
the stock is turned off in the spring I am going 
to hand over to you a half of one per cent, of 
the profits of your flock. You won’t get rich 
out of it, but it will make you feel that you have 
some interest in the stock under your charge.” 

^‘I do not need that inducement, sir.” 

* ^ I know you do not. I am doing this because 
you are entitled to it; you have earned some- 
thing at the hands of the Silver Bow Eanch, 
young man.” 

‘‘I hope I shall be able to do more for you, 
sir. ’ ’ 

^^Oh, you will. There is no doubt of that. 
You both will be shepherds on the Great Divide, 
and I shall endeavor to give you outfits close 
together if we are able to shape things looking 


HUSTLEES ON THE EANCH 249 


to that end. And now, good-bye, Mrs. Eogers. 
I should be proud if I had a boy like yours. 
Yet do you know, Mrs. Eogers, if it wouldnT 
look so fearfully ungrateful, Vd be tempted to 
take this boy and thrash him until he promised 
to take better care of himself 

‘‘You have my full permission to go as far 
as you like in that direction. Captain Woods, 
laughed Eod’s mother, as they left the ofiSce. 

Eod saw his mother off at the station. Then, 
though sturdy and self-reliant boy as he had 
proved himself to be, he felt a great lump rise 
in his throat as he saw the train roll away. Life 
wasn’t so long that he could afford to spend 
too many years away from his mother chum. 

Gulping down the lump in his throat, and 
with a quick, nervous step, he went around the 
station where Glen awaited him. 

“WeVe got big plans on hand, and none too 
much time to put ’em through,” Eod declared. 

“Eight!” nodded Glen. “We’ll have to 
hustle. Great things ahead, and the time is 
short — but what a lot of little stones a fellow 
has to step on, in getting to the greater things ! ’ ’ 
“I guess,” said Eod Eogers, allowing him- 
self a moment’s reflection, “that the great 
things of life are merely heaps of the little 
things piled up so that you can stand on them 
and reach for what you want.” 


250 THE RANGE AND GRANGE 


‘^Tliat must be right,” admitted Glen Ste- 
vens. ‘‘It sounds right, anyway. So let’s 
hustle ourselves back to business. As for my- 
self, I want to pile up a lot of little things right 
here and now — I’m so anxious to get one of the 
big things.” 

Then and there the Range and Grange Hust- 
lers hastened back to their chosen calling. Be- 
fore night they had accomplished several of the 
little things that go to make up the imposing 
heaps of deeds called big things. 

How well they succeeded both with the little 
things and the big deeds must now be reserved 
for telling in the second volume of this series, 
which is published under the title, “The Range 
AND Grange Hustlers’ Greatest Round-Up; 
Or, Pitting Their Wits Against a Packers ’ Com- 
bine. ’ ’ 

This story deals graphically with life on both 
the sheep and the cattle ranges, and depicts 
the cowboy as he is really found in these twen- 
tieth century days. 

Every American boy who is interested in 
farming and ranch life will feel bound to read 
it and he will, without doubt, profit by this 
second volume of the series. 


The End 




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